How to Use the NASA MCP in Cursor

Q: Can Cursor use NASA tools to build a Mars rover app?

Yes. Your Cursor agent can call getmarsrovers to check active missions, then use getmarsphotos to pull down real image arrays to test your application's UI.

Q: Can I search NASA patents directly from the Cursor sidebar?

Yes. Use the searchpatents tool in Cursor to search the federal patent database. Your agent can summarize licensing terms and paste them right into your project documentation.

Code with real-time space data, Mars telemetry, and Earth imagery directly inside your Cursor editor.

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Connect NASA MCP to Cursor

Create your Vinkius account to connect NASA to Cursor and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup NASA with Cursor

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Inject live space telemetry into Cursor code

Build apps using actual orbital data by letting your Cursor agent call `get_neo_feed`. Instead of writing code with fake data, your editor pulls real asteroid diameters and hazard ratings to populate your variables. This MCP Server connection lets you test your algorithms against live data feeds in real-time. You can write, run, and debug space-tracking code without leaving your active workspace.

Fetch planetary imagery directly to your workspace

Write scripts that process satellite photos by feeding coordinates to `get_earth_imagery` inside Cursor. Your agent can fetch specific dates to test image-processing pipelines on real Earth observation data. For Mars projects, use `get_mars_photos` and `get_epic_images` to pull raw rover images and full-disc Earth shots. Cursor reads the metadata directly, letting you build out image galleries with correct timestamp variables.

Query aerospace patents as you write code

If you are building commercial space apps, use Cursor to run `search_patents` and `get_tech_transfer` via this MCP connection. This pulls licensing rules and technical abstracts directly into your coding context. You can also query the main media vault using `search_nasa_library` to find audio or video assets for your front-end. Your agent can generate the exact HTML markup using real asset URLs returned by the tool.

Setup guide

Set up NASA MCP in Cursor

Prerequisites

Cursor installed (macOS, Windows, or Linux)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open MCP Settings

Go to Cursor Settings → MCP or open the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P) and search for "MCP: Add Server".
2

Add the NASA MCP

Cursor will create or open .cursor/mcp.json in your project root. Paste the JSON snippet on the right. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Enable Agent mode

Open Composer (Cmd+I / Ctrl+I) and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown at the top. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode.
4

Verify the connection

Ask Cursor something like "List my recent NASA transactions." If the MCP tools are loaded correctly, Cursor will call the NASA tools automatically. You can also check Settings → MCP for a green status indicator.

.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nasa-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by NASA. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about NASA MCP in Cursor

Create an mcp.json file in your .cursor directory and define the server config there. Once configured, Cursor Agent mode can immediately call tools like APOD or Mars photo search.

Yes. Your Cursor agent can call `get_mars_rovers` to check active missions, then use `get_mars_photos` to pull down real image arrays to test your application's UI.

Yes. You can write code that passes latitude and longitude to `get_earth_imagery` within Cursor. The tool returns direct image URLs that your agent can use to populate your code templates.

Yes. Use the `search_patents` tool in Cursor to search the federal patent database. Your agent can summarize licensing terms and paste them right into your project documentation.

Your location coordinates and patent search queries pass through a secure, zero-trust V8 sandbox. We never log your NASA API keys or cache your search queries, keeping your proprietary code safe.

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