For those who have ever stared up at the night sky in wonder, tracking satellites like the International Space Station (ISS) can be a fascinating hobby. If you've made something blink and are now ready to tackle a moving project, creating a pointing device for satellites is an excellent and engaging next step. This is precisely what a maker named Farid has accomplished with his impressive moving arrow that consistently points at the ISS. He documented his entire journey to inspire others interested in the intersection of technology and creativity.

The project encompasses a variety of concepts, ranging from orbital mechanics—an essential part of understanding how satellites orbit Earth—to fetching two-line elements (TLE), which are critical pieces of data for satellite tracking, from the internet. TLE provides the necessary information to predict the position of satellites over time. Farid ventured into programming, translating the data he acquired into a coordinate system suitable for his tabletop machine. He faced several challenges along the way, especially since he was not extensively familiar with 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) prior to this endeavor. This project allowed him to flex his design skills and learn new techniques.

Additionally, Farid's experience introduced him to the complexities of resource-constrained programming. He remarked that this was his first encounter with the need to consider the size of his compiled binary. The most frustrating moment of his journey was realizing that the use of a C++ stringstream significantly bloated the size of his binary code. This revelation highlighted the importance of optimizing code when working with limited processing power and memory—a lesson that is invaluable for any budding programmer.

Throughout his project, Farid discovered several innovative techniques that might surprise many enthusiasts. For instance, he found that using pencil lead, or graphite, could serve as an effective lubricant for sliding parts that were 3D-printed. This unconventional method not only reduces friction but also enhances the overall functionality of mechanical components. It's a tip that others might want to experiment with in their own projects.

While Farid's tracker is a straightforward desktop model, the fundamental principles behind it could easily be adapted for more complex applications, such as pointing a satellite dish for television or internet reception. Interestingly, one doesn't necessarily need advanced motors or sophisticated computer systems to achieve this; with a bit of physical effort and some training, you could simply use your arm muscles to manually aim a satellite dish. This approach underlines the idea that sometimes, the simplest solutions can be the most effective.