Celestial Node vs Nasa Images
A side-by-side look at the Celestial Node and Nasa Images MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Celestial Node for aerospace & astrodynamics work as a local process; choose Nasa Images for aerospace & astrodynamics as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Celestial Node when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Aerospace & Astrodynamics domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
CELESTIAL_NODE_API_KEY. - You want tools like
get_iss_position, get_tiangong_position, get_crew_in_space.
Choose Nasa Images when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Aerospace & Astrodynamics domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
NASA_API_KEY, PORT. - You want tools like
query.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Aerospace & Astrodynamics | Aerospace & Astrodynamics |
| Quality signal | 47/100 · Fair | 49/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | CELESTIAL_NODE_API_KEY | NASA_API_KEYPORT |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 1 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 18 | 1 |
| Full listing | View Celestial Node | View Nasa Images |
Tools & capabilities
Celestial Node tools 18
get_iss_positionReal-time ISS position (lat, lon, altitude, velocity)get_tiangong_positionReal-time Tiangong station positionget_crew_in_spaceAstronauts/cosmonauts/taikonauts currently in orbitget_upcoming_launchesUpcoming rocket launches worldwideget_space_newsCurated space news from NASA, ESA, CNSA, JAXA, Roscosmos, ISROget_mars_missionsAll 18 Mars missions with instruments and discoveriesget_mars_roversMars rovers with instruments, discoveries, and statusget_mars_weatherMars surface weather (temperature, pressure, wind)search_starsSearch 1M+ stars from ESA Gaia catalogget_star_detailsFull astronomical data for a star by Gaia source IDget_constellationsAll 88 IAU constellationsget_near_earth_objectsUpcoming asteroid close approaches- +6 more on the listing page
Nasa Images tools 1
query
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Celestial Node
{
"mcpServers": {
"celestial-node": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"celestialnode-mcp"
],
"env": {
"CELESTIAL_NODE_API_KEY": "YOUR_CELESTIAL_NODE_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Nasa Images
{
"mcpServers": {
"nasa-images": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@kaitoy/nasa-images-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"NASA_API_KEY": "YOUR_NASA_API_KEY_HERE",
"PORT": "YOUR_PORT_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Celestial Node is categorized under Aerospace & Astrodynamics and uses a local stdio subprocess. Nasa Images belongs to Aerospace & Astrodynamics and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Celestial Node for aerospace & astrodynamics work and Nasa Images for aerospace & astrodynamics.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
Celestial Node has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Nasa Images has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add celestial-node and nasa-images as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Celestial Node has a quality signal of 47/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Nasa Images has 49/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.