Blockchain Satellite Tracking and Prediction App

A decentralized application for tracking and predicting satellite positions using blockchain technology. This project explores the integration of blockchain technology with space data to promote an open space community.

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Features

• Real-time satellite tracking
• Satellite position prediction
• Decentralized data storage using blockchain
• Interactive web interface
• Smart contract integration for data verification
• Comprehensive logging system for debugging and monitoring

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🌐 Live Demo

Visit the live project here

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Prerequisites

• Python 3.9 or higher
• Node.js and npm
• Ganache (for local blockchain development)
• Truffle (for smart contract deployment)
• MetaMask browser extension

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Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/10lloydj/Blockchain-Satellite-Tracking-and-Prediction-App.git
   cd Blockchain-Satellite-Tracking-and-Prediction-App

2. Set up Python virtual environment and install dependencies:

   python -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows use: venv\Scripts\activate
   pip install -r requirements.txt

3. Install Truffle globally:

   npm install -g truffle

4. Start Ganache (local blockchain):

   ganache --port 7545

   Note: The app expects Ganache to run on port 7545 by default. You can change this in your .env if needed.

5. Deploy smart contracts:

   cd Code
   truffle migrate

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Running the Application

1. Set up environment variables:

   • Copy .env.example to .env and fill in your secrets and API keys.
   • Never commit your .env file.

2. Start the Flask application:

   cd Code
   export FLASK_APP=flaskr
   export FLASK_ENV=development
   flask run

3. Open your web browser and navigate to:

   http://localhost:5000
   

Project Structure

Blockchain-Satellite-Tracking-and-Prediction-App/
├── Code/
│   ├── contracts/         # Smart contracts
│   ├── flaskr/           # Flask application
│   ├── migrations/       # Truffle migrations
│   ├── tests/           # Test files
│   └── truffle-config.js # Truffle configuration
├── requirements.txt      # Python dependencies
└── venv/                # Python virtual environment

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Dependencies

Python Dependencies

Key dependencies include:

• Flask
• web3
• skyfield
• requests
• pytz
• numpy
• sgp4
• jplephem
• python-dotenv

For a complete list of dependencies, see requirements.txt.

Blockchain Dependencies

• Truffle
• Ganache
• Web3.js
• MetaMask (for browser interaction)

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Environment Setup

1. Create a .env file in the root directory using .env.example as a template.
2. Add necessary API keys and configuration:
   • N2YO_API_KEY
   • GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY
   • BLOCKCHAIN_ADDRESS
   • CONTRACT_ADDRESS
   • CONTRACT_ARTIFACT_PATH
   • DEFAULT_LATITUDE, DEFAULT_LONGITUDE
   • SECRET_KEY (generate securely)
   • Any other required variables as shown in .env.example

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Security & Best Practices

• Never commit your .env file or any secrets.
• All sensitive values are loaded from environment variables.
• The app is safe to share and deploy as long as you keep your .env private.
• Set all secrets in Render's dashboard for production.

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Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

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Acknowledgments

• Skyfield library for astronomical calculations
• N2YO API for satellite data
• Google Maps API for visualization
• SGP4 library for satellite propagation

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