BACKYARDDSN

A static, self-contained reference console for hobbyists interacting with satellites, radio telescopes, and spacecraft — receive-first, license-honest, and citizen-science oriented. Filterable catalog, live utilities (DSN Now, NASA APOD, ISS position), and an honest mid-2026 status strip.

• > Filterable catalog across seven categories from one typed data model
• > Live DSN Now, APOD, and ISS utilities that degrade gracefully offline
• > RX-vs-TX honest — surfaces every license caveat and retired-service note

> what it does

BackyardDSN is a DIY deep-space reference and utility console — a single static site for hobbyists who want to listen to satellites, radio telescopes, and spacecraft. Receive-first, license-honest, citizen-science oriented, in the DIY-meets-deep-space spirit of Project Hail Mary. No backend, no trackers, no telemetry.

> what’s inside

• >Catalog — filterable across seven categories, driven by one typed data model.
• >Utilities — live DSN Now, NASA APOD, and ISS position; everything else works offline.
• >Status — an honest mid-2026 caveat strip (retired NOAA APT, SETI@home hibernating, dated pricing).
• >RX vs TX honest throughout: receiving is legal almost everywhere; transmitting needs a license.

Live at https://backyarddsn.blackmesalabs.org.