This article provides a complete, practical walkthrough of the Http Mqtt Automation Webhook n8n agent. It connects HTTP Request, Webhook across approximately 1 node(s). Expect a Intermediate setup in 15-45 minutes. One‑time purchase: €29.

What This Agent Does

This agent orchestrates a reliable automation between HTTP Request, Webhook, handling triggers, data enrichment, and delivery with guardrails for errors and rate limits.

It streamlines multi‑step processes that would otherwise require manual exports, spreadsheet cleanup, and repeated API requests. By centralizing logic in n8n, it reduces context switching, lowers error rates, and ensures consistent results across teams.

Typical outcomes include faster lead handoffs, automated notifications, accurate data synchronization, and better visibility via execution logs and optional Slack/Email alerts.

How It Works

The workflow uses standard n8n building blocks like Webhook or Schedule triggers, HTTP Request for API calls, and control nodes (IF, Merge, Set) to validate inputs, branch on conditions, and format outputs. Retries and timeouts improve resilience, while credentials keep secrets safe.

Third‑Party Integrations

• HTTP Request
• Webhook

Import and Use in n8n

1. Open n8n and create a new workflow or collection.
2. Choose Import from File or Paste JSON.
3. Paste the JSON below, then click Import.
4. Show n8n JSON

   Title:  
   Real-Time ISS Tracking with n8n and MQTT: Automating Satellite Position Updates  
   
   Meta Description:  
   Learn how to create a real-time International Space Station tracking system using n8n, accessing live satellite data via a public API and broadcasting it through MQTT every minute.
   
   Keywords:  
   n8n workflow, ISS tracker, MQTT automation, real-time space tracking, satellite tracking API, where the ISS, IoT workflow, automation tools, space API, node-based automation
   
   Third-Party APIs Used:  
   1. Where the ISS At? API (https://wheretheiss.at/)
   
   Article:
   
   Tracking the International Space Station (ISS) in real time doesn't have to involve heavy code — with modern automation tools like n8n, even complex tasks like continuous space monitoring can be achieved with just a few nodes. In this article, we'll walk you through an n8n workflow that fetches the real-time position of the ISS every minute and publishes the result via MQTT. This setup allows you to integrate the ISS tracking data with thousands of IoT devices and services seamlessly.
   
   Let’s break down what this workflow does, the technologies involved, and how you can build and extend it for your own automation or educational use.
   
   Overview of the Workflow
   
   This n8n automation consists of four nodes working together to complete one simple but powerful task:
   
   - Cron Trigger — Initiates the workflow every minute.
   - HTTP Request — Queries a live ISS position API.
   - Set — Extracts and formats the relevant data fields.
   - MQTT — Publishes the data to an MQTT topic for real-time integrations.
   
   Node by Node: What's Happening
   
   1. Cron Node — Automate on the Minute  
   The workflow begins with a Cron node configured to trigger every minute. This is ideal for real-time data applications, striking an effective balance between frequency and system load. It ensures that our workflow is fetching the most up-to-date location of the ISS without overwhelming the external API or local resources.
   
   2. HTTP Request Node — Where in the World is the ISS?  
   Once triggered, the workflow makes a call to a third-party API: “Where the ISS At?” (https://wheretheiss.at/), an open-source satellite tracking platform. Specifically, it hits the endpoint for real-time satellite positions, using the satellite ID 25544 — the identifier for the International Space Station.
   
   The parameters include a dynamic timestamp calculated at runtime using JavaScript's Date.now(). This ensures that the request fetches the position of the ISS at the precise moment the request is made.
   
   3. Set Node — Clean, Structure, and Format  
   Upon receiving the API response — typically a JSON array of position data — the Set node extracts specific fields such as the ISS's name, latitude, longitude, and timestamp. These fields are then formatted into individual outputs to be transmitted over MQTT. The “keepOnlySet” option ensures only the desired data is retained for the next step.
   
   4. MQTT Node — Broadcast to the IoT World  
   The final node in the chain is an MQTT node configured to publish the ISS position data to a topic named “iss-position.” MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) is a lightweight messaging protocol widely used for IoT applications. By publishing the data to an MQTT broker, you're effectively enabling any subscriber (e.g., dashboard, microcontroller, mobile app) to receive real-time ISS location updates every minute.
   
   Applications and Use Cases
   
   This workflow has a number of practical uses:
   
   - Educational tools: Teachers and students can visualize the path of the ISS in real-time.
   - IoT dashboards: Incorporate live space data into home or industrial dashboards.
   - Maker projects: Combine the workflow with an LED matrix or e-paper display to show satellite data visually.
   - Data logging: Extend the workflow by adding a Google Sheets or MySQL node to store historical data.
   
   Extending the Workflow
   
   We’ve kept the current setup simple and focused, but there are many ways you could expand it:
   
   - Add a geo-coordinate map using services like Leaflet or OpenStreetMap for visualization.
   - Create alerts or notifications when the ISS is overhead based on your local coordinates.
   - Hook into webhooks or Node-RED for additional automation.
   
   Conclusion
   
   This powerful yet minimalist n8n workflow demonstrates the potential of combining API access, real-time automation, and IoT messaging protocols like MQTT. Whether you're a hobbyist, student, or professional developer, this setup is a stepping stone into the fascinating world of real-time data automation.
   
   With tools like n8n and access to free APIs, tracking objects in space or building custom space-data applications has never been more accessible.
   
   Try it out, and you may find yourself looking up to the night sky a little more often.
   
   Stay curious. 🛰️
   
   — End —

5. Set credentials for each API node (keys, OAuth) in Credentials.
6. Run a test via Execute Workflow. Inspect Run Data, then adjust parameters.
7. Enable the workflow to run on schedule, webhook, or triggers as configured.

Tips: keep secrets in credentials, add retries and timeouts on HTTP nodes, implement error notifications, and paginate large API fetches.

Validation: use IF/Code nodes to sanitize inputs and guard against empty payloads.

Why Automate This with AI Agents

AI‑assisted automations offload repetitive, error‑prone tasks to a predictable workflow. Instead of manual copy‑paste and ad‑hoc scripts, your team gets a governed pipeline with versioned state, auditability, and observable runs.

n8n’s node graph makes data flow transparent while AI‑powered enrichment (classification, extraction, summarization) boosts throughput and consistency. Teams reclaim time, reduce operational costs, and standardize best practices without sacrificing flexibility.

Compared to one‑off integrations, an AI agent is easier to extend: swap APIs, add filters, or bolt on notifications without rewriting everything. You get reliability, control, and a faster path from idea to production.

Best Practices

• Credentials: restrict scopes and rotate tokens regularly.
• Resilience: configure retries, timeouts, and backoff for API nodes.
• Data Quality: validate inputs; normalize fields early to reduce downstream branching.
• Performance: batch records and paginate for large datasets.
• Observability: add failure alerts (Email/Slack) and persistent logs for auditing.
• Security: avoid sensitive data in logs; use environment variables and n8n credentials.

FAQs

Can I swap integrations later? Yes. Replace or add nodes and re‑map fields without rebuilding the whole flow.

How do I monitor failures? Use Execution logs and add notifications on the Error Trigger path.

Does it scale? Use queues, batching, and sub‑workflows to split responsibilities and control load.

Is my data safe? Keep secrets in Credentials, restrict token scopes, and review access logs.