If you want to feel like an astronaut without leaving Earth, ISS-Above is a Raspberry Pi-based device that calculates where the International Space Station is at all times, displaying its location and a live video feed directly to your TV, or blinking when the ISS is nearby.
Kennedy was also wearing a mobile version, indicating the next time and location of the ISS passing overhead, and possibly a sign of things to come. He also had a copy of his official, signed Space Act Agreement, required by NASA for any outreach partnerships and programs, a nice geek touch.
Liam, have you always been into computing and space?
When I was growing up in the UK, in a village near Cambridge, I was doing programming. On the BBC Micro, in fact, I wrote a graphical animation program for the Grundy NewBrain...during the 8-bit era of home computing. Since then I've been a software developer. I was also just six when the Apollo II landed, and I've been space mad ever since.
I moved to the US in 1994, with a consulting firm in software development, which got acquired by USWeb, then MarchFirst—so I lived through the dot-com boom, then bang or bust, a really interesting time. I came to California in 1996, and saw cloudless skies for months. I suddenly had great admiration for early astronomers in the UK—like Sir William Herschel—because I can't remember how many clear nights there must have been back there. It resurfaced my interest in astronomy, and I became the president of Orange County Astronomers.
I've been to NASA Johnson Space Center on many occasions, and I pinch myself whenever I get to walk the same hallways as the astronauts. I'm most honored to have friends and contacts who work in many aspects of NASA's programs, including some flight controllers who work in Mission Control, Houston. It never ceases to amaze me that I can just reach out with a question and often within minutes get an answer from someone who actually works ON the ISS.
When did the idea for ISS-Above come to you?
We did a lot of outreach to the public when I was president of the Orange County Astronomers, during the time when the ISS was being constructed, in orbit—from 1998 onwards—and then, with the launch of the first crew [on Oct 31, 2000]. Whenever the ISS would be passing by, and was visible, it was THE thing that got everyone engaged—we'd be with hundreds of parents and children in a parking lot, doing education outreach programs. That was what gave me the idea to create ISS-Above.
How much does ISS-Above cost, and what do you get for that?
For $147.50, you get: the ISS-Above software, which tracks the ISS; a Raspberry Pi Model 3 in its own transparent case, with power supply; PiGlow flashing RGB LED display; quick-start guide; [and access to the] website to manage your ISS-Above. For anyone who has a Raspberry Pi, you can get...the image file for $30, and write it to your own 8GB MicroSD card and be up and running in minutes.
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It has obvious appeal for schools, but you said a growing part of your business is for corporations; ITEX in Bellevue, Washington broadcasts ISS-Above in its lobby. How many organizations, institutions, and individuals are beaming ISS-Above today?
There are over 1,800 installations of ISS-Above worldwide, including every NASA Center in the US and a few with ESA [the European Space Agency]. There are some in space-themed breweries, pubs, and wine bars, and more than 100 schools and science centers in the US. Quite a few teachers tweet photos or messages showing how the ISS-Above has their students get inspired to find out more about the ISS and what humans are getting up to in space. It helps when they realize these astronauts are passing by their school five to eight times every day.
It's our lucky day- The ISS is above us during Discovery Lab! @ISSAboveYou@lsullivan@KWBnagle#kwbpridehttp://pic.twitter.com/x39M3AmA2h
— Jessica Idol (@Idol_KWB) June 16, 2017
You continue to be very engaged in the emerging SpaceEdTech field.
I've had the honor to present to the public on many topics related to astronomy and space and NASA's mission via my various prior roles as president of Orange County Astronomers, NASA/JPL Solar System volunteer ambassador, and Planetarium Lecturer for the Griffith Observatory. At NASA/JPL, there are now several ISS-Above devices, mostly used for public outreach by their educators, including a special one hooked up to their campus TV network and even in the Deep Space Network control room.
What's next for ISS-Above?
I am currently putting together a grant proposal for formal sponsorship by the ISS U.S. National Laboratory to support 100 schools to get an ISS-Above, combined with a curriculum development and student impact evaluation project. And I'm also planning a LightSail-Above version, in partnership with The Planetary Society for the launch of their new cubesat on SpaceX's second Falcon 9 Heavy in late 2017, early 2018.
Anything in the wearables line so one can take the ISS-Above wherever one roams?
I am considering a wearable e-ink display version.
Sign us up to be a beta tester for that, please.
You're on the list (laughs).
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