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KML Export (Google Earth)

This entry is based on a converted groups.io post, put here for any documentation value.

Update,

KML Export

The dashboard now supports KML export of the flight path. Useful to import into Google Earth.

I thought to do this because my father's flight (link) has gone off the map toward the North Pole and has become difficult to conceptualize on a 2D map. This feature addresses that, and is also just kind of neat.

2D Map struggling to show updates, map doesn't appear to show above +/- 85 degrees latitude.

Here is that same flight, plotted on google earth:

The KML file automatically defines both the North and South Pole, so if you're close, you can easily see it.

How to Use

Just above the table of data, there are two new options, KML with altitude, and KML without.

Click the link, and you get a file download popup.

Pros / Cons

The KML with altitude has pros/cons, as does the no-altitude version.

With Altitude Pros:

  • Neat ability to see altitude changes (eg launch or weather trouble)

With Altitude Cons:

  • GPS jamming, or intermittent spots, means consecutive spots may have a straight-line path through the Earth, hiding the line from view.

No-Altitude Pros/Cons: - Doesn't suffer downsides, but not as neat

More KML Features

I may enhance this further to add more information into the KML, but it's kind of just a prototype for now. Feel free to make suggestions.

Unfortunately I don't see a way to get a live updating google earth feed with the technology in use at the moment.

I also don't see a way to link directly to Google Earth from the dashboard, so the intermediate step of a file download is necessary (sucks).

Stuff about Google Earth

I only tried this on the web version of Google Earth. Hopefully it works in any application (let me know if not).

Google Earth Web: https://earth.google.com/ (chrome only)

You import the downloaded file like this:

You'll then get a track which has all the spots broken out. You can fly to any given spot using the menu (3 dots) next to it.

I find it helpful to turn off layers like clouds

Google Earth also lets you measure distance in case you want to see distance from a thing. In this case, I'm measuring distance to the North Pole.

Thanks and enjoy!

Doug