Can I see photos from the Curiosity rover?

Yes! Use the `get_mars_rover_photos` tool and set the `rover` parameter to 'curiosity'. You'll also need to provide a specific earth date.

How do I know if an asteroid is dangerous?

The `get_near_earth_objects` tool returns a list of asteroids. For each object, the `is_potentially_hazardous_asteroid` field will tell you if NASA has classified it as a potential threat.

Does this provide real-time space images?

The images are updated as soon as they are processed and published by NASA. For example, APOD is updated daily, and rover photos are uploaded as they are received from the Martian surface.

NASA Open Data MCP Server for Cursor 8 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: NASA Open Data
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

docs.cursor.com/context/model-context-protocol

Built by Vinkius GDPR 8 Tools IDE

Cursor is an AI-first code editor built on VS Code that integrates LLM-powered coding assistance directly into the development workflow. Its Agent mode enables autonomous multi-step coding tasks, and MCP support lets agents access external data sources and APIs during code generation.

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The modern way to manage MCP Servers — no config files, no terminal commands. Install NASA Open Data and 2,500+ MCP Servers from a single visual interface.

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Classic Setup·json

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

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* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure

About NASA Open Data MCP Server

Equip your AI agent with the wonders of the universe through the NASA Open Data MCP server. This integration provides real-time access to official NASA databases, including the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD), high-resolution imagery from Mars Rovers (Curiosity, Opportunity, Spirit), and the Near Earth Object (NEO) feed for tracking asteroids. Whether you are an astronomy enthusiast, a space researcher, or an educator, your agent acts as a dedicated space science mission specialist through natural conversation.

Cursor's Agent mode turns NASA Open Data into an in-editor superpower. Ask Cursor to generate code using live data from NASA Open Data and it fetches, processes, and writes — all in a single agentic loop. 8 tools appear alongside file editing and terminal access, creating a unified development environment grounded in real-time information.

What you can do

Astronomy Discovery — Retrieve the daily astronomy picture and its detailed scientific explanation.
Planetary Imaging — Access real-time photos from Mars and monitor Earth via the DSCOVR EPIC instrument.
Solar Weather Intelligence — Track Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) and Solar Flares from the Space Weather Database.
Asteroid Tracking — Monitor Near Earth Objects, track specific asteroids by ID, and review potential Earth impact risks.
Space Auditing — Summarize complex astronomical findings and historical space mission data.

The NASA Open Data MCP Server exposes 8 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Cursor in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect NASA Open Data to Cursor via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the NASA Open Data MCP Server with Cursor.

Open MCP Settings

Press Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) → search "MCP Settings"

Add the server config

Paste the JSON configuration above into the mcp.json file that opens

Save the file

Cursor will automatically detect the new MCP server

Start using NASA Open Data

Open Agent mode in chat and ask: "Using NASA Open Data, help me..." — 8 tools available

Why Use Cursor with the NASA Open Data MCP Server

Cursor AI Code Editor provides unique advantages when paired with NASA Open Data through the Model Context Protocol.

Agent mode turns Cursor into an autonomous coding assistant that can read files, run commands, and call MCP tools without switching context

Cursor's Composer feature can generate entire files using real-time data fetched through MCP — no copy-pasting from external dashboards

MCP tools appear alongside built-in tools like file reading and terminal access, creating a unified agentic environment

VS Code extension compatibility means your existing workflow, keybindings, and extensions all work alongside MCP tools

NASA Open Data + Cursor Use Cases

Practical scenarios where Cursor combined with the NASA Open Data MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Code generation with live data: ask Cursor to generate a security report module using live DNS and subdomain data fetched through MCP

Automated documentation: have Cursor query your API's tool schemas and generate TypeScript interfaces or OpenAPI specs automatically

Infrastructure-as-code: Cursor can fetch domain configurations and generate corresponding Terraform or CloudFormation templates

Test scaffolding: ask Cursor to pull real API responses via MCP and generate unit test fixtures from actual data

NASA Open Data MCP Tools for Cursor (8)

These 8 tools become available when you connect NASA Open Data to Cursor via MCP:

get_astronomy_picture

Get the NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD)

get_coronal_mass_ejections

Get records of Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) from the Space Weather Database

get_earth_polychromatic_images

Get Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) images

get_mars_rover_manifest

Get the mission manifest and photo details for a Mars Rover

get_mars_rover_photos

Get photos from Mars rovers (Curiosity, Opportunity, Spirit)

get_near_earth_objects_feed

Get a list of Near Earth Objects (asteroids) for a specific date range

get_solar_flares

Get records of Solar Flares from the Space Weather Database

lookup_asteroid

Lookup details for a specific Near Earth Object (Asteroid)

Example Prompts for NASA Open Data in Cursor

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Cursor agent to start working with NASA Open Data immediately.

"Show me today's NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day."

"Get photos from the Curiosity rover on Earth date 2023-05-15."

"Are there any potentially hazardous asteroids approaching Earth this week?"

Troubleshooting NASA Open Data MCP Server with Cursor

Common issues when connecting NASA Open Data to Cursor through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

Tools not appearing in Cursor

Ensure you are in Agent mode (not Ask mode). MCP tools only work in Agent mode.

Server shows as disconnected

Check Settings → Features → MCP and verify the server status. Try clicking the refresh button.

NASA Open Data + Cursor FAQ

Common questions about integrating NASA Open Data MCP Server with Cursor.

What is Agent mode and why does it matter for MCP?

Agent mode is Cursor's autonomous execution mode where the AI can perform multi-step tasks: reading files, editing code, running terminal commands, and calling MCP tools. Without Agent mode, Cursor operates in a simpler ask-and-answer mode that doesn't support tool calling. Always ensure you're in Agent mode when working with MCP servers.

Where does Cursor store MCP configuration?

Cursor looks for MCP server configurations in a mcp.json file. You can configure servers at the project level (.cursor/mcp.json in your project root) or globally (~/.cursor/mcp.json). Project-level configs take precedence.

Can Cursor use MCP tools in inline edits?

No. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode through the chat panel. Inline completions and Tab suggestions do not trigger MCP tool calls. This is by design — tool calls require user visibility and approval.

How do I verify MCP tools are loaded?

Open Settings → Features → MCP and look for your server name. A green indicator means the server is connected. You can also check Agent mode's available tools by clicking the tools dropdown in the chat panel.