NASA MCP Server

Name: NASA MCP Server
Author: ProgramComputer

@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.

Basic information

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

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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.