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.

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Overview

NASA MCP Server is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server designed to provide a standardized interface for AI models to interact with NASA's extensive data sources, implementing the official Model Context Protocol specification.

To use the NASA MCP Server, you can run it using npx with your NASA API key or manually install it by cloning the repository and running it with the necessary dependencies. Configuration is also available for Cursor users.

Access to over 20 NASA data sources through a unified interface. - Standardized data formats optimized for AI consumption. - Automatic parameter validation and error handling. - Rate limit management for NASA API keys. - Comprehensive documentation and examples. - Support for various NASA imagery formats. - Data conversion and formatting for LLM compatibility. - Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux).

Accessing Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) data.
Retrieving Mars Rover photos for analysis.
Querying Near Earth Objects for research purposes.
Obtaining satellite imagery for environmental studies.

Add to your AI client

Use these steps to connect NASA MCP Server in Cursor, Claude, VS Code, and other MCP-compatible apps. The same JSON appears in the Use with menu above for one-click copy.

Cursor

Add this to your .cursor/mcp.json file in your project root, then restart Cursor.

.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nasa-mcp-server-programcomputer": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-nasa-mcp-server-programcomputer"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop

Add this server entry to the mcpServers object in your Claude Desktop config, then restart the app.

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nasa-mcp-server-programcomputer": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-nasa-mcp-server-programcomputer"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Claude Code

Add this to your project's .mcp.json file. Claude Code will detect it automatically.

.mcp.json (project root)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nasa-mcp-server-programcomputer": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-nasa-mcp-server-programcomputer"
      ]
    }
  }
}

VS Code (Copilot)

Add this to your .vscode/mcp.json file. Requires the GitHub Copilot extension with MCP support enabled.

.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "servers": {
    "nasa-mcp-server-programcomputer": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-nasa-mcp-server-programcomputer"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Windsurf

Add this to your Windsurf MCP config file, then restart Windsurf.

~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nasa-mcp-server-programcomputer": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-nasa-mcp-server-programcomputer"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Cline

Open Cline settings, navigate to MCP Servers, and add this server configuration.

Cline MCP Settings (via UI)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nasa-mcp-server-programcomputer": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-nasa-mcp-server-programcomputer"
      ]
    }
  }
}

FAQ

Is this project affiliated with NASA?

No, this project is independent and not affiliated with NASA or its subsidiaries.

How do I get a NASA API key?

You can obtain a NASA API key by signing up at https://api.nasa.gov/.

What platforms does the server support?

The server supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Research and data