About ISSINFO
Our Mission
ISSINFO provides accurate, real-time tracking of the International Space Station using professional-grade orbital mechanics. Our goal is to make space science accessible to educators, students, amateur astronomers, and anyone curious about humanity's presence in orbit.
The Science Behind the Tracker
Unlike simple coordinate lookups, ISSINFO performs continuous orbital propagation using the SGP4 (Simplified General Perturbations 4) algorithm—the same mathematical model used by NORAD and NASA for satellite tracking. This accounts for:
- Atmospheric drag — The ISS orbits at ~400km where trace atmosphere causes gradual orbital decay
- Earth's oblateness (J2 perturbation) — Earth's equatorial bulge affects orbital precession
- Gravitational harmonics — Non-uniform mass distribution influences the trajectory
- Solar radiation pressure — Photon momentum affects large structures like ISS solar arrays
We update our Two-Line Element (TLE) data from CelesTrak multiple times daily and propagate positions at 4Hz for smooth, accurate visualization.
Who We Are
Neil Johnson — Software Engineer at Microsoft with 30 years of experience in IT, specializing in real-time data systems and distributed computing. Neil handles the backend architecture, orbital propagation engine, and infrastructure.
Leo Johnson — Astronomy student focusing on orbital mechanics, spacecraft dynamics, and space science education. Leo contributes to the scientific accuracy of the tracker and develops educational content.
We built ISSINFO as a father-son project combining software engineering expertise with astronomical knowledge. What started as a learning exercise has grown into a resource used by thousands of space enthusiasts worldwide.
Contact: info@issinfo.net
Advertising: Interested in reaching our audience of space enthusiasts? Contact us at info@issinfo.net.
Data Sources & Scientific References
- CelesTrak TLE Data — Authoritative Two-Line Element sets (NORAD ID 25544) maintained by Dr. T.S. Kelso
- go-satellite (SGP4/SDP4) — Implementation of the NORAD orbital propagation algorithms
- The Space Devs API — Astronaut biographical data and mission information
- OpenStreetMap Nominatim — Reverse geocoding for sub-satellite point location
- NASA ISS Program — Official mission updates and operations news
Technical Implementation
- Backend: Go (Golang) for high-performance orbital calculations and API serving
- Propagation: SGP4/SDP4 algorithms with TLE input from CelesTrak
- Update Rate: 4Hz position updates (250ms intervals)
- Mapping: Leaflet.js with OpenStreetMap tiles
- Visualization: Chart.js for real-time altitude and velocity graphs
- Infrastructure: Docker containers on Debian, Nginx reverse proxy
Privacy & Analytics
We are committed to protecting your privacy. ISSINFO Tracker uses Plausible Analytics, a privacy-focused, GDPR-compliant analytics service that respects your privacy.
Our Analytics Approach
- Cookie-Free: Plausible doesn't use cookies or store personal data
- No IP Tracking: Your IP address is never logged or stored
- No Cross-Site Tracking: We don't track you across other websites
- GDPR Compliant: No consent banners needed - compliant by design
- Open Source: Plausible's code is fully open source and auditable
What We Collect (via Plausible)
- Page Views: Which pages are visited and when
- Referrer Sites: Which external websites send visitors to us
- Browser Type: General browser information (Chrome, Firefox, etc.)
- Country: Approximate country location (derived from IP, but IP not stored)
- Device Type: Desktop, mobile, or tablet (for responsive design optimization)
What We DON'T Collect
- Personal Information: No names, email addresses, or contact details
- IP Addresses: Never logged or stored by us or Plausible
- User Tracking: No individual user identification or behavioral profiles
- Cookies: No tracking cookies or persistent identifiers
- Precise Location: No GPS coordinates or exact geographical data
- Personal Browsing: No detailed click tracking or interaction monitoring
Data Storage & Retention
- EU Servers: All data stored on Plausible's servers in the European Union
- Retention Period: Analytics data automatically deleted after 24 months
- Aggregated Only: All data is aggregated and cannot be traced to individuals
- No Data Sales: Your data is never sold or shared with third parties
Contact Us
If you have any questions about our data handling practices, your privacy rights, or want to request deletion of your data, please contact us at info@issinfo.net.
Last updated: January 14, 2026