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 Windsurf 8 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: NASA Open Data
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

docs.windsurf.com/windsurf/mcp

Built by Vinkius GDPR 8 Tools IDE

Windsurf brings agentic AI coding to a purpose-built IDE. Connect NASA Open Data through Vinkius and Cascade will auto-discover every tool. ask questions, generate code, and act on live data without leaving your editor.

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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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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.

Windsurf's Cascade agent chains multiple NASA Open Data tool calls autonomously. query data, analyze results, and generate code in a single agentic session. Paste Vinkius Edge URL, reload, and all 8 tools are immediately available. Real-time tool feedback appears inline, so you see API responses directly in your 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 Windsurf 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 Windsurf via MCP

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

Open MCP Settings

Go to Settings → MCP Configuration or press Cmd+Shift+P and search "MCP"

Add the server

Paste the JSON configuration above into mcp_config.json

Save and reload

Windsurf will detect the new server automatically

Start using NASA Open Data

Open Cascade and ask: "Using NASA Open Data, help me...". 8 tools available

Why Use Windsurf with the NASA Open Data MCP Server

Windsurf provides unique advantages when paired with NASA Open Data through the Model Context Protocol.

Windsurf's Cascade agent autonomously chains multiple tool calls in sequence, solving complex multi-step tasks without manual intervention

Purpose-built for agentic workflows. Cascade understands context across your entire codebase and integrates MCP tools natively

JSON-based configuration means zero code changes: paste a URL, reload, and all 8 tools are immediately available

Real-time tool feedback is displayed inline, so you see API responses directly in your editor without switching contexts

NASA Open Data + Windsurf Use Cases

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

Automated code generation: ask Cascade to fetch data from NASA Open Data and generate models, types, or handlers based on real API responses

Live debugging: query NASA Open Data tools mid-session to inspect production data while debugging without leaving the editor

Documentation generation: pull schema information from NASA Open Data and have Cascade generate comprehensive API docs automatically

Rapid prototyping: combine NASA Open Data data with Cascade's code generation to scaffold entire features in minutes

NASA Open Data MCP Tools for Windsurf (8)

These 8 tools become available when you connect NASA Open Data to Windsurf 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 Windsurf

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Windsurf 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 Windsurf

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

Server not connecting

Check Settings → MCP for the server status. Try toggling it off and on.

NASA Open Data + Windsurf FAQ

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

How does Windsurf discover MCP tools?

Windsurf reads the mcp_config.json file on startup and connects to each configured server via Streamable HTTP. Tools are listed in the MCP panel and available to Cascade automatically.

Can Cascade chain multiple MCP tool calls?

Yes. Cascade is an agentic system. it can plan and execute multi-step workflows, calling several tools in sequence to accomplish complex tasks without manual prompting between steps.

Does Windsurf support multiple MCP servers?

Yes. Add as many servers as needed in mcp_config.json. Each server's tools appear in the MCP panel and Cascade can use tools from different servers in a single flow.