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 VS Code Copilot 8 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: NASA Open Data
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/chat/mcp-servers

Built by Vinkius GDPR 8 Tools IDE

GitHub Copilot in VS Code is the most widely adopted AI coding assistant, embedded directly into the world's most popular code editor. With MCP support in Agent mode, Copilot can access external data and APIs to generate context-aware code grounded in real-time information.

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Classic Setup·json

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

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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.

GitHub Copilot Agent mode brings NASA Open Data data directly into your VS Code workflow. With a project-scoped config, the entire team shares access to 8 tools. Copilot queries live data, generates typed code, and writes tests from actual API responses, all without leaving the editor.

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 VS Code Copilot 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 VS Code Copilot via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the NASA Open Data MCP Server with VS Code Copilot.

Create MCP config

Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your project root

Add the server config

Paste the JSON configuration above

Enable Agent mode

Open GitHub Copilot Chat and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown

Start using NASA Open Data

Ask Copilot: "Using NASA Open Data, help me...". 8 tools available

Why Use VS Code Copilot with the NASA Open Data MCP Server

GitHub Copilot for Visual Studio Code provides unique advantages when paired with NASA Open Data through the Model Context Protocol.

VS Code is used by over 70% of developers. adding MCP tools to Copilot means your team can leverage external data without leaving their primary editor

Project-scoped MCP configs (`.vscode/mcp.json`) let you commit server configurations to your repository, ensuring the entire team shares the same tool access

Copilot's Agent mode integrates MCP tools seamlessly with file editing, terminal commands, and workspace search in a single agentic loop

GitHub's enterprise compliance and audit features extend to MCP tool usage, providing visibility into how AI interacts with external services

NASA Open Data + VS Code Copilot Use Cases

Practical scenarios where VS Code Copilot combined with the NASA Open Data MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Live API integration: Copilot can query an MCP server, inspect the response schema, and generate typed API client code in the same step

DevSecOps workflows: security teams can give developers access to domain intelligence tools directly in their editor for real-time vulnerability assessment during code review

Data pipeline development: Copilot fetches sample data via MCP and generates transformation scripts, validators, and test fixtures from actual API responses

Documentation generation: Copilot queries available tools and auto-generates README sections, API reference docs, and usage examples

NASA Open Data MCP Tools for VS Code Copilot (8)

These 8 tools become available when you connect NASA Open Data to VS Code Copilot 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 VS Code Copilot

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your VS Code Copilot 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 VS Code Copilot

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

MCP tools not available

Ensure you are in Agent mode in Copilot Chat. MCP tools only appear in Agent mode.

NASA Open Data + VS Code Copilot FAQ

Common questions about integrating NASA Open Data MCP Server with VS Code Copilot.

Which VS Code version supports MCP?

MCP support requires VS Code 1.99 or later with the GitHub Copilot extension. Ensure both are updated to the latest version. Older versions of Copilot may not expose the Agent mode toggle.

How do I switch to Agent mode?

Open the Copilot Chat panel and look for two mode options: "Ask" and "Agent". Click "Agent" to enable autonomous tool calling. In Ask mode, Copilot provides conversational answers but cannot invoke MCP tools.

Can I restrict which MCP tools Copilot can access?

Yes. VS Code shows a tool consent dialog before any MCP tool is invoked for the first time. You can also configure tool access policies at the organization level through GitHub Copilot settings.

Does MCP work in VS Code Remote or Codespaces?

Yes. MCP servers configured via .vscode/mcp.json work in Remote SSH, WSL, and GitHub Codespaces environments. The MCP connection is established from the remote host, so ensure the server URL is accessible from that environment.