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Receive updates of the position of the ISS every minute

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Receive updates of the position of the ISS every minute preview
Open on n8n.io

Important notice

This workflow is provided as-is. Please review and test before using in production.

1. Workflow Overview

This workflow demonstrates the use of static data in n8n. The workflow is built on the concept of polling. Cron node: The Cron node triggers the workflow every mi...

Best for

  • Personal Productivity automation workflows
  • beginner n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.function, n8n-nodes-base.set, n8n-nodes-base.httprequest, n8n-nodes-base.cron

Source and attribution

This workflow is cataloged by N8N Workflows and links back to its original n8n.io source page by Harshil Agrawal.

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title
Receive updates of the position of the ISS every minute
Workflow name
Receive updates of the position of the ISS every minute

This workflow demonstrates the use of static data in n8n. The workflow is built on the concept of polling.

Cron node: The Cron node triggers the workflow every minute. You can configure the time based on your use-case.

HTTP Request node: This node makes an HTTP Request to an API that returns the position of the ISS.

Set node: In the Set node we set the information that we need in the workflow. Since we only need the timestamp, latitude, and longitude we set this in the node. If you need other information, you can set them in this node.

Function node: The Function node, checks if the incoming data is similar to the data that was returned in the previous execution or not. If the data is different the Function node returns this new node, otherwise, it returns a message 'No New Items'. The data is also stored as static data with the workflow.

Based on your use-case, you can build the workflow further. For example, you can use it send updates to Mattermost or Slack

1.2 Logical Blocks

This catalog entry is organized from the workflow JSON. The node-level section below shows the executable blocks available for review before importing the template.

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - Function

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.function - function
Config choices
Version 1

Block 2 - Set

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices
Version 1

Block 3 - HTTP Request

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - httpRequest
Config choices
Version 1

Block 4 - Cron

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.cron - cron
Config choices
Version 1

3. Summary Table

Workflow Receive updates of the position of the ISS every minute
Complexity beginner
Nodes 4
Categories Personal Productivity
Author Harshil Agrawal
Published 07 Jan 2021

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

  1. 1. Download the workflow JSON

    Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/880/880.json as the source template for this automation.

  2. 2. Import the template into n8n

    Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.

  3. 3. Configure credentials and variables

    Replace placeholder credentials, API keys, webhook URLs, account IDs, and environment-specific values with your own settings.

  4. 4. Test with sample data

    Run the workflow manually or in a staging workspace, inspect node output, and confirm downstream systems receive the expected data.

  5. 5. Activate and monitor

    Enable the workflow only after testing, then monitor executions, errors, and rate limits during the first production runs.

5. General Notes & Resources

Review imported nodes carefully before activation. This catalog entry is intended to help you inspect the workflow structure, understand required services, and find related templates faster.

Node names, credentials, schedules, webhook paths, and external service limits may need adjustment for your workspace.

Frequently asked questions

What does Receive updates of the position of the ISS every minute do?

This workflow demonstrates the use of static data in n8n. The workflow is built on the concept of polling. Cron node: The Cron node triggers the workflow every mi...

What do I need before importing this workflow?

Review the workflow JSON, configure any required credentials in n8n, and test the automation in a safe workspace before using it in production.

Can I customize this workflow?

Yes. Use the block-by-block analysis and the downloadable JSON to inspect each node, then adjust credentials, prompts, schedules, filters, or destinations for your Personal Productivity use case.