# NASA DONKI MCP > NASA DONKI — Space Weather Intelligence delivers real-time data on critical space phenomena. This MCP Server provides seven specialized tools: check for Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), analyze solar flare classes (X, M, C), monitor geomagnetic storms and Kp indices, track interplanetary shocks, map radiation belt enhancements, identify Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs), and get a unified feed of all DONKI notifications. It's the deep-dive data source for mission planning. ## Overview - **Category:** the-unthinkable - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** space-weather, solar-flares, geomagnetic-storms, real-time-notifications, astrophysics ## Description **NASA DONKI: Space Weather Intelligence.** This MCP Server gives your AI client deep-dive data on solar and space physics events. It’s built around seven specialized tools that track everything from massive coronal mass ejections to subtle radiation enhancements. You're looking at the full spectrum of threats, so you don't gotta juggle a bunch of different feeds. **Monitoring Large Solar Eruptions:** The `get_solar_flares` tool lets you query detailed records of solar flares by class: C, M, and X. Remember, an X-class flare is the big one; it's the most severe kind and can cause radio blackouts that mess up comms across huge areas. The data gives you peak times and active region identifiers so you know exactly what to look out for when planning ground operations. You also get a read on `get_cme`, which retrieves Coronal Mass Ejection events. These aren't just little puffs; they're massive solar wind bursts that can trigger serious geomagnetic storms, and the tool defaults to showing you everything from the last 30 days so you’ve got historical context. **Tracking Storm Dynamics and Warnings:** The `get_interplanetary_shocks` function pulls records of shock waves moving through the solar wind. These shocks are often what signal a major event is coming, giving you advance notice that something big's brewing out there. When you run `get_geomagnetic_storms`, you get data that includes the critical Kp index. This metric tells you how bad the geomagnetic disturbance is—it’s essential for understanding potential impacts on everything from GPS signals to local power grids. For a quick status check, use `get_donki_notifications`; this single feed pulls together alerts on flares, shocks, storms, and CMEs, giving your agent an immediate overview of recent solar activity. **Assessing Particle Hazards:** Space isn't just about magnetic fields; it’s also about dangerous particles. `get_solar_energetic_particles` provides details on SEPs. These are high-energy particles that can seriously damage sensitive electronics and pose real risks to people in crewed missions. You also need to keep an eye on the Van Allen radiation belts using `get_radiation_belt`. This tool checks for enhancements to these belts, which is absolutely vital when you're planning a satellite pass through Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) because it tells you exactly where you might run into dangerous levels of radiation. These seven tools cover every angle so you can plan your mission knowing what the space environment’s gonna throw at you. ## Tools ### get_cme Retrieves Coronal Mass Ejection events. This data shows massive solar wind bursts that can trigger major geomagnetic storms, defaulting to the last 30 days. ### get_donki_notifications Pulls a unified feed of all recent space weather alerts, combining information on CMEs, flares, shocks, and radiation events for a quick status check. ### get_geomagnetic_storms Gets geomagnetic storm data, including the critical Kp index. This is essential for understanding impacts to GPS and power grids. ### get_interplanetary_shocks Retrieves records of shock waves in the solar wind. These shocks frequently precede major geomagnetic storms, giving advance warning. ### get_radiation_belt Checks for enhancements to the Van Allen radiation belts, which is vital when planning satellite passes through Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). ### get_solar_energetic_particles Provides details on Solar Energetic Particle events. These particles are hazardous to electronics and human life in space. ### get_solar_flares Retrieves solar flare data, categorized by class (C, M, X). The X-class flares are the most severe and can cause radio blackouts. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Were there any solar flares this month? ``` **Response:** ``` ☀️ **Solar Flares — April 2026** | Date | Class | Peak | Region | |------|-------|------|--------| | Apr 2 | M2.1 | 14:32 UT | AR 3842 | | Apr 3 | C7.4 | 08:15 UT | AR 3840 | | Apr 3 | X1.2 | 22:47 UT | AR 3842 | 3 flares this month. 1 X-class — may cause HF radio blackouts. ``` **Prompt:** ``` Were there any major geomagnetic storms last year? ``` **Response:** ``` Yes, there were 12 significant geomagnetic storms last year reaching Kp index 6 or higher. The most severe was a G4-class storm in May, which caused auroras to be visible as far south as Texas. ``` **Prompt:** ``` Check if any interplanetary shocks are approaching. ``` **Response:** ``` Based on DONKI data, there is 1 interplanetary shock approaching. It is linked to a CME that erupted two days ago and is expected to pass by the DSCOVR satellite within the next 8-12 hours. ``` ## Capabilities ### Retrieve Coronal Mass Ejection Events You get historical and near-real-time data on CMEs, showing their potential impact on Earth's magnetic field. ### Get All Space Weather Alerts This tool pulls a unified feed of all DONKI events—flares, shocks, storms, etc.—for a rapid overview of recent solar activity. ### Monitor Geomagnetic Storm Indices You access data including the Kp index to measure the severity of geomagnetic disturbances, affecting everything from GPS to power grids. ### Track Interplanetary Shock Waves This provides records of shock waves that propagate through the solar wind, often signaling an incoming major event. ### Check Radiation Belt Status You retrieve data on enhancements to the Van Allen radiation belts, crucial for planning satellite missions in MEO. ### Analyze Solar Energetic Particle Flux This tool provides information about dangerous SEPs, which can damage sensitive electronics and pose risks to crewed missions. ### Query Solar Flare Classifications You get detailed records of solar flares by class (C, M, X), including their peak times and active region identifiers. ## Use Cases ### Responding to an X-class flare. A major solar flare is reported. Instead of manually searching multiple databases, your agent runs `get_solar_flares` (to confirm the class and time) and then immediately calls `get_interplanetary_shocks`. This tells you if the flare was accompanied by a shock wave, which dictates whether high-frequency radio blackouts are imminent. ### Scheduling an international satellite pass. An engineer needs to route a satellite through MEO. They first call `get_radiation_belt` for the current date/time. If the output shows high enhancement, they know to reschedule or activate shielding protocols before launching. ### Analyzing historical grid failures. A reliability analyst needs to understand a blackout from five years ago. They use `get_geomagnetic_storms` for that date range to see the Kp index. This data helps them correlate past storm severity with modern grid vulnerability, making their report scientifically sound. ### Investigating an unexpected particle spike. A remote asset reports unusual sensor readings. Your agent runs `get_solar_energetic_particles` to check for recent SEP events. This quickly determines if the anomaly is due to a known space weather threat, allowing the team to rule out solar causes immediately. ## Benefits - Immediate risk assessment: Don't wait for dashboards. By calling `get_geomagnetic_storms`, you get the current Kp index, giving an immediate measure of how hard Earth's magnetosphere is being hit, which is better than waiting for a manual report. - Deep event correlation: Instead of just getting a list of flares, your agent can link data. It can check `get_solar_flares` and then use that time stamp to call `get_cme`, showing if the flare was caused by a CME—that’s key context. - Unified monitoring: Forget checking seven separate NASA sites. The `get_donki_notifications` tool aggregates CMEs, flares, shocks, and storms into one stream. It's a single call for total situational awareness. - Mission planning certainty: Planning an orbital pass? You run `get_radiation_belt` alongside the mission trajectory data to predict if you’ll cross through high-risk radiation zones before committing to launch windows. - Preemptive warning system: Interplanetary shocks often signal major upcoming events. Running `get_interplanetary_shocks` gives your team a lead time, allowing them to put assets into safe mode hours before the main storm hits. ## How It Works The bottom line is that you get actionable, scientifically vetted solar activity reports without needing to visit multiple NASA websites or parse disparate datasets. 1. Tell your agent what specific event you need to track (e.g., 'latest CMEs' or 'X-class solar flares'). 2. The agent calls the appropriate tool (like `get_cme` or `get_solar_flares`) and receives structured, historical data from NASA DONKI. 3. Your AI client processes this raw space physics data into a clear report detailing severity, timing, and potential impact. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How do I check if a solar flare caused a geomagnetic storm using get_solar_flares and get_geomagnetic_storms?** You need to correlate the timelines. First, use `get_solar_flares` to identify the peak time of an X-class event. Then, run `get_geomagnetic_storms` for that same period. A strong overlap suggests the flare triggered the storm. **Is get_donki_notifications better than checking all the other tools individually?** Yes, it's faster. `get_donki_notifications` acts as a unified summary feed of activity across CMEs, flares, shocks, and storms in one call. It gives you a high-level overview without needing to run seven separate queries. **What is the difference between get_cme and get_interplanetary_shocks?** CMEs are the massive bursts of solar wind that *cause* the disturbance. Interplanetary shocks are the resultant wave front, propagating through the solar wind and often arriving at Earth first. **Can I use get_radiation_belt to plan a satellite orbit?** Absolutely. Running `get_radiation_belt` helps you map out areas of enhanced radiation in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). This is critical for adjusting orbital paths or planning safe operational windows. **How can I get detailed timing information using `get_solar_flares`?** The tool provides full event timelines, not just a class rating. You get the begin time, peak time, and end time for each flare event. This data is crucial for planning communication blackouts or satellite passes. **What specific risks does `get_solar_energetic_particles` track?** It tracks Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs), which pose direct hazards to astronauts and sensitive electronic equipment. Seeing an SEP event means you need to evaluate potential damage risk for orbital assets. **If I see data from `get_interplanetary_shocks`, what should I expect regarding geomagnetic activity?** Interplanetary shocks often precede major magnetic disturbances. Think of them as a precursor; the shock wave itself indicates that significant geomagnetic storm activity is likely approaching. **Does `get_donki_notifications` cover all seven event types, or just the big ones?** It provides a unified feed covering every listed event type: CMEs, flares, storms, shocks, SEPs, radiation belt events, and all general notifications. It's built for a complete situational overview. **What is the difference between DONKI and SWPC?** DONKI is NASA's historical database of space weather events with detailed analysis. SWPC (Space Weather Prediction Center, under NOAA) focuses on real-time monitoring and forecasting. They complement each other. **What happens during a Geomagnetic Storm?** Geomagnetic storms, triggered by solar activity, can cause auroras, disrupt satellite communications, affect GPS accuracy, and in extreme cases, induce currents that trip electrical grids. **How long does it take for a CME to reach Earth?** Coronal Mass Ejections typically take 1 to 5 days to reach Earth, depending on their speed, which can range from 250 km/s to over 3,000 km/s.