How does the live data from the International Space Station get into my web browser?

Computers at JSC receive International Space Station telemetry data via satellite downlink, process the data, and make it available through the Information Sharing Protocol (ISP). The Advanced International Space Station Tracking Monitor uses ISPresso, a Java version of the ISP client library which allows Java-enabled browsers to tap directly into ISP telemetry streams. Using ISPresso, your browser will receive the ISP data directly from the ISP stream delivered to the Human Spaceflight web server from the Mission Control Center.

What information can I get from the tracking monitor?

(A) The map of the world.

(B) The International Space Station; the center represents its current latitude/longitude.

(C) The blue line tracks the International Space Station's path over the ground.

(D) The red circle around the International Space Station represents its horizon (the area on the ground from which the orbiter is visible).

(E) Header Information:
(GMT, Houston and Moscow times are displayed in DAYS/HOURS:MIN:SEC format. These times are based on the user's system clock and may vary accordingly. You can synchronize your computer system with the atomic clock at the U.S. Naval Observatory).

• GMT: Greenwich Mean Time
• Lat: Latitude of the orbiter
• Long: Longitude of the orbiter
• Alt: Current altitude of orbiter in kilometers
• Spd: The Orbiter speed in meters per second

(F) The yellow ball represents the Sun's zenith (high noon on earth).

(G)The Orbital Tracking Application also provides location data on the space shuttle during missions.