NASA MCP Server
@ProgramComputer
About NASA MCP Server
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for NASA APIs, providing a standardized interface for AI models to interact with NASA's vast array of data sources.
Config
Add this server to your MCP-compatible client using the configuration below.
{
"mcpServers": {
"NASA-MCP-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@programcomputer/nasa-mcp-server@latest",
"--nasa-api-key=YOUR_API_KEY"
]
}
}
}Tools
23Fetch NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day
Near Earth Object Web Service - information about asteroids
Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera - views of Earth
Global Imagery Browse Services - satellite imagery
NASA Common Metadata Repository - search for NASA data collections
NASA Fire Information for Resource Management System - fire data
NASA Image and Video Library - search NASA's media archive
NASA Exoplanet Archive - data about planets beyond our solar system
Space Weather Database Of Notifications, Knowledge, Information
NASA Mars Rover Photos - images from Mars rovers
Earth Observatory Natural Event Tracker - natural events data
Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources - meteorological data
Small-Body Database (SBDB) - asteroid and comet data
Fireball data - atmospheric impact events
Julian Day number to/from calendar date/time converter
Human-accessible NEOs (Near-Earth Objects) data
Asteroid and comet close approaches to the planets in the past and future
JPL Sentry - NEO Earth impact risk assessment data
JPL Horizons - Solar system objects ephemeris data
JPL Horizons - Solar system objects ephemeris data (File Input)
JPL Three-Body Periodic Orbits Database
NASA OSDR - Get data files for an OSD study
Scout - NEOCP orbits, ephemerides, and impact risk data
Overview
What is NASA MCP Server?
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides a standardized interface for AI models to interact with 20+ NASA data sources. It implements the official MCP specification and is designed for developers building AI applications that need access to NASA’s publicly available APIs.
How to use NASA MCP Server?
Install or run via npx with your NASA API key as an environment variable or command‑line argument. Alternatively, clone the repository, install dependencies, and start the server using npm start. By default the server communicates over stdio; for remote deployments it supports Streamable HTTP mode.
Key features of NASA MCP Server
- Access to 20+ NASA data sources through one consistent interface
- Standardized data formats optimized for AI consumption
- Automatic parameter validation and error handling
- Rate limit management for NASA API keys
- Cross‑platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Data conversion and formatting for LLM compatibility
Use cases of NASA MCP Server
- Query the Astronomy Picture of the Day for a given date
- Fetch Mars Rover photos filtered by rover, sol, and camera
- Search Near Earth Objects over a date range
- Retrieve satellite imagery from GIBS (Global Imagery Browse Services)
- Obtain worldwide energy resource data via the POWER API
FAQ from NASA MCP Server
Which NASA APIs are included?
NASA MCP Server integrates the NASA Open API (APOD, EPIC, DONKI, Mars Rover Photos, NEO, EONET, TLE, Image and Video Library, Exoplanet Archive, Sounds, POWER), JPL Solar System Dynamics APIs (SBDB, Close‑Approach Data, Fireball, Scout), and Earth Data APIs (GIBS, CMR, FIRMS).
Is this project affiliated with NASA?
No. This is an independent implementation that accesses publicly available NASA APIs. It is not endorsed by or related to NASA.
What transport modes does NASA MCP Server support?
The server supports two transport modes: the default stdio for local MCP clients (e.g., Cursor, Claude Desktop) and an optional Streamable HTTP mode for remote connections.
What do I need to run NASA MCP Server?
You need a free NASA API key from api.nasa.gov and a Node.js environment. The key can be set via the NASA_API_KEY environment variable or passed as a --nasa-api-key argument.
What security measures are implemented?
Input validation using Zod schemas, protection against command injection, rate limiting, timeout controls, and proper error handling to prevent information leakage.
Frequently asked questions
Which NASA APIs are included?
NASA MCP Server integrates the NASA Open API (APOD, EPIC, DONKI, Mars Rover Photos, NEO, EONET, TLE, Image and Video Library, Exoplanet Archive, Sounds, POWER), JPL Solar System Dynamics APIs (SBDB, Close‑Approach Data, Fireball, Scout), and Earth Data APIs (GIBS, CMR, FIRMS).
Is this project affiliated with NASA?
No. This is an independent implementation that accesses publicly available NASA APIs. It is not endorsed by or related to NASA.
What transport modes does NASA MCP Server support?
The server supports two transport modes: the default `stdio` for local MCP clients (e.g., Cursor, Claude Desktop) and an optional Streamable HTTP mode for remote connections.
What do I need to run NASA MCP Server?
You need a free NASA API key from api.nasa.gov and a Node.js environment. The key can be set via the `NASA_API_KEY` environment variable or passed as a `--nasa-api-key` argument.
What security measures are implemented?
Input validation using Zod schemas, protection against command injection, rate limiting, timeout controls, and proper error handling to prevent information leakage.
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