🚀 Space Explorer MCP Server

A custom MCP server that connects Kiro to live space data — NASA APIs and real-time ISS tracking. Ask Kiro about astronauts in space, the ISS position, today's asteroid flyby, or NASA's picture of the day.

One-Sentence Summary

A custom MCP server that gives Kiro real-time access to NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day, live ISS tracking coordinates, crew currently in space, near-Earth asteroid data, and ISS visibility predictions.

Related MCP server: NASA-MCP

What It Connects To

Tools Provided

Quick Start

# Clone
git clone https://github.com/rajkksns/space-explorer-mcp.git
cd space-explorer-mcp

# Install
npm install

# Test (runs the server in stdio mode)
echo '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"initialize","params":{"protocolVersion":"2024-11-05","capabilities":{},"clientInfo":{"name":"test","version":"1.0.0"}}}' | node server.js

Configure in Kiro

Add to your Kiro MCP settings (.kiro/settings.json or user MCP config):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "space-explorer": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/absolute/path/to/space-explorer-mcp/server.js"],
      "env": {
        "NASA_API_KEY": "DEMO_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

Then in Kiro chat, ask:

• "Who is currently in space?"

• "Where is the ISS right now?"

• "Show me today's astronomy picture"

• "Are there any asteroids near Earth today?"

• "Can I see the ISS from Coimbatore tonight?"

Environment Variables

NASA_API_KEY=DEMO_KEY    # Optional. Get a free key at https://api.nasa.gov/

The server works with DEMO_KEY (rate limited to 30 requests/hour). For unlimited access, register for a free NASA API key.

What This Enables

Without this MCP server, Kiro has no access to:

• Live astronaut crew data that changes with every mission

• Real-time ISS position (updates every second)

• Daily rotating NASA imagery with scientific explanations

• Live asteroid tracking data

With this server, Kiro becomes a space-aware assistant that can answer questions about what's happening in space right now — not from training data, but from live APIs.

Demo

Video Demo

Project Built With This Integration

Using the MCP tools, I asked Kiro to generate a "Space Status Dashboard" — a single HTML page that shows:

1. Astronauts currently in space (from get_people_in_space)

2. ISS live position on a map (from get_iss_location)

3. Today's APOD image (from get_astronomy_picture)

4. Nearby asteroids (from get_near_earth_objects)

This dashboard could only be built because the MCP server provides Kiro with live data it doesn't have access to otherwise.

Tech Stack

• Runtime: Node.js

• Protocol: MCP SDK (@modelcontextprotocol/sdk)

• Transport: stdio (local MCP server)

• APIs: NASA Open APIs + Open Notify

• Auth: NASA DEMO_KEY (free, no signup needed)

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