About the ISS Tracker Applet

The ISS Tracker applet displays how close the International Space Station is to your location by changing the color of a key on your Das Keyboard Q. It uses live orbital data and distance calculations to deliver a subtle but powerful signal right on your keyboard.

About the ISS

The International Space Station is a permanently crewed science lab orbiting Earth every 90 minutes. It's one of humanity’s most ambitious cooperative efforts, and it’s visible to the naked eye when it passes overhead. This applet helps you know when that’s happening without opening a website or checking an app.

Features

• Live tracking: Uses real-time data from the Open Notify API
• Postal code support: Automatically converts your ZIP code into geographic coordinates
• Color-coded distance alerts:
  • 🟢 Green (blinking): ISS is within 500 km
  • 🟡 Yellow (blinking): within 1000 km
  • 🟠 Orange (blinking): within 2000 km
  • 🔴 Red (steady): ISS is farther than 2000 km
• Silent, persistent monitoring: Updates regularly and requires no manual checking

Takeaway

Whether you're a space enthusiast or just curious about what's happening above Earth, this applet brings the ISS closer to your daily life. Assign it to any key, enter your postal code, and know when to look up. Your keyboard will let you know.