NASA Open APIs
Comprehensive Endpoint Reference Guide
Generated: January 31, 2026
[Link]
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Authentication
3. Core APIs
- APOD (Astronomy Picture of the Day)
- Mars Rover Photos
- EPIC (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera)
- NeoWs (Near Earth Object Web Service)
4. Earth & Climate APIs
- Earth Imagery
- Earth Assets
- EONET (Earth Observatory Natural Event Tracker)
5. Space Weather APIs
- DONKI (Space Weather Database)
- InSight Mars Weather
6. Scientific Data APIs
- Exoplanet Archive
- GeneLab
- SSD/CNEOS (Solar System Dynamics)
7. Technology & Innovation APIs
- TechPort
- TechTransfer
8. Media & Archives
- NASA Image and Video Library
- Sounds
9. Satellite & Orbital APIs
- TLE API (Two-Line Element)
- Satellite Situation Center
10. Additional Resources
1. Introduction
NASA's Open API initiative makes a wide range of NASA data available to developers, educators, scientists,
and the general public. This comprehensive guide documents all available endpoints across NASA's API
ecosystem.
NASA collects over 15 terabytes of data daily from various missions, satellites, and research projects. These
APIs provide standardized access to this wealth of information in machine-readable formats, primarily JSON.
2. Authentication
Base URL
[Link]
API Key
Most NASA APIs require an API key for access. You can use the DEMO_KEY for testing, which allows 30
requests per hour and 50 requests per day per IP address.
How to Get an API Key:
• Visit [Link]
• Fill out the API key signup form
• Receive your key via email (instant)
• Personal keys allow 1,000 requests per hour
3. Core APIs
APOD - Astronomy Picture of the Day
Returns the Astronomy Picture of the Day along with metadata including title, explanation, date, and media type
(image or video).
Endpoint GET /planetary/apod
Description Retrieve the astronomy picture of the day
Base URL [Link]
Parameters api_key (required)
date (optional, YYYY-MM-DD)
hd (optional, boolean)
start_date (optional)
end_date (optional)
count (optional, random images)
thumbs (optional, for videos)
Response Format JSON
Example [Link]
Mars Rover Photos
Access image data collected by NASA's Curiosity, Opportunity, and Spirit rovers on Mars. Photos can be
queried by Martian sol (day) or Earth date.
Endpoint GET /mars-photos/api/v1/rovers/{rover_name}/photos
Rovers curiosity, opportunity, spirit, perseverance
Base URL [Link]
Parameters sol (Martian day, required if no earth_date)
earth_date (YYYY-MM-DD)
camera (FHAZ, RHAZ, MAST, CHEMCAM, MAHLI, MARDI, NAVCAM, PANCAM, MINITES)
page (pagination)
api_key (required)
Cameras FHAZ: Front Hazard Avoidance
RHAZ: Rear Hazard Avoidance
MAST: Mast Camera
CHEMCAM: Chemistry Camera
MAHLI: Mars Hand Lens Imager
MARDI: Mars Descent Imager
NAVCAM: Navigation Camera
PANCAM: Panoramic Camera
Example [Link]
EPIC - Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera
Provides daily imagery collected by the DSCOVR satellite's EPIC instrument, which captures full-disc images of
Earth from approximately one million miles away.
Endpoint (Natural) GET /EPIC/api/natural
Endpoint (Enhanced) GET /EPIC/api/enhanced
Endpoint (Date) GET /EPIC/api/natural/date/{YYYY-MM-DD}
Base URL [Link]
Image URL [Link]
Parameters api_key (required)
Collections natural: Natural color images
enhanced: Enhanced color images
Example [Link]
NeoWs - Near Earth Object Web Service
Provides access to near-Earth asteroid information including close approach data, orbital elements, and
potentially hazardous asteroid classifications.
Feed Endpoint GET /neo/rest/v1/feed
Lookup Endpoint GET /neo/rest/v1/neo/{asteroid_id}
Browse Endpoint GET /neo/rest/v1/neo/browse
Base URL [Link]
Feed Parameters start_date (YYYY-MM-DD, required)
end_date (YYYY-MM-DD, optional)
api_key (required)
Lookup Parameters asteroid_id (int, required)
api_key (required)
Browse Parameters api_key (required)
Example Feed [Link]
Example Lookup [Link]
4. Earth & Climate APIs
Earth Imagery
Retrieves Landsat 8 satellite imagery for any location and date. Returns the URL of the image closest to the
requested date.
Endpoint GET /planetary/earth/imagery
Base URL [Link]
Parameters lat (latitude, required)
lon (longitude, required)
date (YYYY-MM-DD, optional)
dim (width/height, default 0.025)
cloud_score (boolean, optional)
api_key (required)
Response Returns image URL and metadata
Example [Link]
Earth Assets
Retrieves available dates and asset names for Landsat imagery at a specific location.
Endpoint GET /planetary/earth/assets
Parameters lat (required)
lon (required)
begin_date (YYYY-MM-DD, optional)
end_date (YYYY-MM-DD, optional)
api_key (required)
Example [Link]
EONET - Earth Observatory Natural Event Tracker
Provides metadata about natural events including wildfires, storms, volcanoes, and other Earth phenomena
tracked by NASA's Earth Observatory.
Events Endpoint GET [Link]
Categories Endpoint GET [Link]
Layers Endpoint GET [Link]
Parameters status (open/closed)
limit (number of results)
days (events in last N days)
source (data source)
category (event category)
Categories wildfires, volcanoes, storms, floods, droughts, dust/haze, earthquakes, landslides, manmade, sea/lake
Example [Link]
5. Space Weather APIs
DONKI - Space Weather Database
The Space Weather Database Of Notifications, Knowledge, Information provides comprehensive access to
space weather events including solar flares, coronal mass ejections, geomagnetic storms, and more.
CME Endpoint GET [Link]
CME Analysis GET [Link]
Geomagnetic Storm GET [Link]
Interplanetary Shock GET [Link]
Solar Flare GET [Link]
Solar Energetic Particle GET [Link]
Magnetopause Crossing GET [Link]
Radiation Belt Enhancement
GET [Link]
High Speed Stream GET [Link]
WSA+EnlilSimulation GET [Link]
Notifications GET [Link]
Parameters startDate (YYYY-MM-DD, required)
endDate (YYYY-MM-DD, required)
api_key (required)
Example [Link]
InSight Mars Weather Service
Provides per-Sol summary data for the last seven available Sols from NASA's InSight Mars lander. Note: This
API has been deprecated as the InSight mission ended.
Endpoint GET /insight_weather/
Status DEPRECATED (Mission ended)
Parameters api_key, ver (version), feedtype
Data Returned Temperature, wind speed, pressure for each Martian Sol
6. Scientific Data APIs
Exoplanet Archive
Programmatic access to NASA's Exoplanet Archive database containing confirmed exoplanets, planetary
candidates, and stellar parameters.
Base URL [Link]
Query Format TAP (Table Access Protocol)
Tables ps (Planetary Systems)
pscandidates (Planet Candidates)
koi (Kepler Objects of Interest)
k2candidates (K2 Candidates)
tce (Threshold Crossing Events)
stellar (Stellar Parameters)
Parameters query (ADQL query string)
format (json, csv, votable, etc.)
Example [Link]
GeneLab
Provides access to NASA's GeneLab database containing omics data from spaceflight and spaceflight-relevant
experiments.
Data Files Endpoint GET [Link]
Metadata Endpoint GET [Link]
Search Endpoint GET [Link]
Parameters term (search term)
type (study/experiment)
size (results per page)
from (offset)
Example [Link]
SSD/CNEOS - Solar System Dynamics
Provides access to JPL's Solar System Dynamics and Center for Near-Earth Object Studies data including
orbits, close approaches, and impact risk assessments.
Base URL [Link]
Close Approach GET /[Link]
Fireball GET /[Link]
Scout GET /[Link]
Sentry GET /[Link]
NHATS GET /[Link]
Parameters Varies by endpoint - see documentation
Example [Link]
7. Technology & Innovation APIs
TechPort
Provides information about NASA technology projects including descriptions, benefits, and current development
status.
All Projects GET /techport/api/projects
Specific Project GET /techport/api/projects/{project_id}
Base URL [Link]
Parameters last_updated (YYYY-MM-DD)
api_key (required)
Response Format JSON or XML
Example [Link]
TechTransfer
Provides access to NASA's patent portfolio, software catalog, and technology transfer opportunities.
Patents GET /techtransfer/patent
Software GET /techtransfer/software
Spinoffs GET /techtransfer/spinoff
Parameters api_key (required)
query terms vary by endpoint
Example [Link]
8. Media & Archives
NASA Image and Video Library
Search and access NASA's extensive collection of images, videos, and audio files from various missions and
centers.
Search Endpoint GET [Link]
Asset Endpoint GET [Link]
Metadata Endpoint GET [Link]
Captions Endpoint GET [Link]
Search Parameters q (query)
center (NASA center)
description
keywords
location
media_type (image/video/audio)
nasa_id
photographer
title
year_start
year_end
page
Example [Link]
NASA Audio Collection
Access to NASA's audio files including historic mission communications, spacecraft sounds, and more.
Access Via NASA Image and Video Library API
Media Type Filter media_type=audio
Example [Link]
9. Satellite & Orbital APIs
TLE - Two-Line Element Sets
Provides up-to-date two-line element set records for Earth-orbiting objects. Data updated daily from CelesTrak.
Search Endpoint GET /api/tle/search
Get Endpoint GET /api/tle/{satellite_id}
Base URL [Link]
Parameters search (satellite name)
satellite_id (NORAD catalog number)
Example Search [Link]
Example Get [Link]
Satellite Situation Center
Provides spacecraft location information mapped to geophysical regions and magnetic field lines.
Base URL [Link]
Endpoints Observatory listings, locations, conjunctions, ground stations
Format XML/JSON
Documentation [Link]
10. Additional Resources
Official Documentation
• Main API Portal: [Link]
• API Documentation: [Link]
• Support: [Link]
Additional NASA Data APIs
• NASA Earthdata Search: [Link]
• CMR (Common Metadata Repository): [Link]
• POWER (Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources): [Link]
• AppEEARS: [Link]
Rate Limits
• DEMO_KEY: 30 requests/hour, 50 requests/day per IP
• Personal API Key: 1,000 requests/hour
• Some endpoints may have different limits
Best Practices
• Always use HTTPS for API requests
• Include your API key in requests
• Handle rate limiting gracefully
• Cache responses when appropriate
• Use date ranges wisely to minimize data transfer
• Check API status pages for known issues
Response Formats
Most NASA APIs return data in JSON format, though some support:
• JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)
• XML (Extensible Markup Language)
• CSV (Comma-Separated Values)
• VOTable (Virtual Observatory Table)
Contributing
NASA welcomes contributions and feedback on its APIs. To report issues or suggest improvements, visit the
respective API's GitHub repository or contact the API team through the official channels listed on [Link].
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This document was generated from publicly available NASA API documentation. For the most up-to-date
information, please visit [Link]
Document Version: 1.0 | Generated: January 31, 2026