NASA API Integration with MCP
The MCP Project for CSE 473 Winter 2025. Coded with the assistance of Cursor AI and Claude 3.7
- ide
About
NASA API Integration with MCP is a Python application that connects NASA’s public APIs to a Model Context Protocol (MCP) environment using Ollama and the llama3.2 language model. It lets users query NASA data through natural language, running as a command-line tool intended for developers and space enthusiasts.
How to use NASA API Integration with MCP?
First, install Ollama and the llama3.2 model. Then clone the repository, create a Python virtual environment (python -m venv venv), activate it (Windows: venv\Scripts\activate, Unix: source venv/bin/activate), and install dependencies with pip install -r requirements.txt. Run the main application with python mcp_chat.py. A test suite is available via python test_suite.py.
Key features of NASA API Integration with MCP
- Integrates NASA APIs with MCP via Ollama and llama3.2
- Supports natural‑language queries for space data
- Covers Astronomy Picture of the Day, Mars Rover photos, asteroids, Earth imagery
- Includes a dedicated test suite (test_suite.py)
- Straightforward command‑line interface (mcp_chat.py)
Use cases of NASA API Integration with MCP
- Retrieve today’s Astronomy Picture of the Day with explanation
- Request recent photos taken by the Curiosity rover on Mars
- Query near‑Earth asteroid data for current flybys
- Obtain satellite‑like images of Earth from space
FAQ from NASA API Integration with MCP
What do I need to install to get started?
You need Ollama with the llama3.2 model, a Python 3 virtual environment, and the dependencies listed in requirements.txt.
How do I launch the application?
After setting up the environment and dependencies, run python mcp_chat.py from the project root.
What example queries can I try?
The README provides examples: “Show me today's astronomy picture,” “What photos did Curiosity take recently?,” “Are there any asteroids passing near Earth?,” and “Show me images of Earth from space.”
Is there a way to verify the integration works?
Yes, you can run python test_suite.py to execute the project’s test suite.
Details
- Author
- jmand626
- Category
- ide
- Website
- ollama.ai/
- Repository
- jmand626/473-mcpproject
Quick Setup
1. Install Ollama and the llama3.2 model
2. Clone this repository
3. Create a virtual environment: python -m venv venv
4. Activate:
- Windows: venv\Scripts\activate
- Unix: source venv/bin/activate
5. Install dependencies: pip install -r requirements.txt
Running the Project
Run the main application:
python mcp_chat.py
Run the test suite:
python test_suite.py
Example Queries
- "Show me today's astronomy picture"
- "What photos did Curiosity take recently?"
- "Are there any asteroids passing near Earth?"
- "Show me images of Earth from space"
Project Documentation
See my report for more info









