ISS Explorer vs Locate ISS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ISS Explorer
Explore a detailed 3D model of the International Space Station. Rotate, zoom, and select individual components to learn about their function and systems. Organize your view by turning parts and labels on or off.
- Interactive 3D ISS model
- Rotate and zoom functionality
- Selectable parts with isolation
- Detailed information on components
- Hierarchical part organization
- Toggle parts and labels
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The ISS explorer is an interactive tool for exploring the parts and pieces of the International Space Station (ISS). The application allows the user to view a 3D model of the ISS, rotate it, zoom into it, and select different parts and pieces. When the application starts, you can see a view of the entire ISS with category labels. Tabs are available on the left hand side of the screen which allow you access to information, the hierarchy, settings and application information. From this point, you can zoom into the station, revealing more labels of visible parts. The station can also be rotated to view from different angles. If a part is selected, the part is isolated so that you can focus on the specific piece. The information tab shows information about the currently isolated part. Inside the hierarchy tab, you can turn parts on or off, turn labels for parts on or off, turn parts transparent, or select a part to focus on. The parts are organized in a hierarchy to allow for systems to be described and displayed. This includes things such as truss, modules, and external platforms. The Information tab shows information about the current isolated part, system, or the full ISS if the entire station is shown.
Locate ISS
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Space Station Tracker & News Track the International Space Station in real-time and stay updated with the latest space news. View the ISS's exact location on an interactive map as it orbits Earth at 17,500 mph, with coordinates updated every five seconds. Browse current space articles from NASA, SpaceX, and major space agencies.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is device support: ISS Explorer at 3 against Locate ISS's 1. ISS Explorer also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.2). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | ISS Explorer | Locate ISS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (16 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 16 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 18.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 747 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | NASA | Robert Secrest |
In-app purchases
ISS Explorer
No in-app purchases
Locate ISS
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is ISS Explorer free?
Is Locate ISS free?
Do ISS Explorer or Locate ISS have ads?
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