Where does the history come from?

GCAT, Jonathan McDowell's General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects under CC BY 4.0: all 7,391 orbital and deep-space launch attempts since Sputnik in 1957, each with launch time, vehicle, flight name, mission, site with country, pad, agency, outcome, apogee and inclination.

Where does the schedule come from?

Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs, covering the next 100 and the last 100 launches with providers, pads and status, fetched live.

How are launches identified?

By their GCAT tag, such as 1969-059 for Apollo 11, which also serves as the lookup key.

The upcoming schedule is fetched live with a short cache, and the historical catalogue is re-synced as GCAT publishes updates.

Does it include suborbital flights?

No. The catalogue covers orbital and deep-space attempts. Suborbital test flights are out of scope.

DataMAINTAINED1 token / call

Space Launches API

All 7,391 orbital launches since Sputnik plus the live upcoming schedule, with vehicle, site, agency and outcome

Every orbital launch in history, plus the live schedule. History comes from GCAT — Jonathan McDowell's authoritative General Catalog (CC BY 4.0): all 7,391 orbital and deep-space launch attempts since Sputnik (tag '1957 ALP', 1957-10-04T19:28:34Z, success), each with launch time, vehicle, flight name, mission, launch site with country, pad, agency and outcome — Apollo 11 is 1969-059, Saturn V from KSC LC39A. Search by mission, vehicle, agency, site, country, year or outcome; aggregate stats by year, vehicle, agency, country or site (2024: 262 launches, 256 successes; Falcon 9's 684 flights lead all-time; its 2024 record: 131 successes). The upcoming side syncs twice daily from Launch Library 2 (The Space Devs): the next ~100 launches plus the last 100, with provider, rocket, mission, orbit, pad, status and image — ask /launches/next and get the next liftoff on Earth with its countdown timestamp. Space content apps, countdown widgets, news tooling, dashboards, trivia and education — 68 years of spaceflight plus what launches tonight, in one API.

Every call needs an X-Api-Key header. A free key includes 500 tokens a month, no card required. 1 token per call, so the free plan covers about 500 calls a month.

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response.json

{
  "ok": true,
  "launch": {
    "tag": "1969-059",
    "date": "1969-07-16T13:32:00Z",
    "year": 1969,
    "vehicle": "Saturn V",
    "variant": null,
    "flight": "Apollo 11",
    "mission": "Apollo CM-107",
    "site_code": "KSC",
    "site_name": "NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida",
    "country": "US",
    "pad": "LC39A",
    "agency_code": "MSFC",
    "agency_name": "MSFC",
    "category": "deep space",
    "success": true,
    "apogee_km": 192,
    "inclination": 32.6,
    "dest": null
  }
}

Production Ready: Battle-tested infrastructure with a 99.9% uptime SLA. Rate limits are generous, responses are consistent.
Simple Integration: Standard REST + JSON. Works with any HTTP client. Copy-ready code snippets in 4 languages.
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Use cases for Space Launches API

Show the next launch with countdown, vehicle and pad on a space news or enthusiast app.
Search launch history by mission, vehicle, agency, site, country, year or outcome.
Build statistics on success rates and launch cadence by year or provider.
Link a mission such as Apollo 11 to its exact launch time, vehicle and site.

Space Launches API endpoints

Every endpoint with its parameters and a real example response.

OpenAPI definition Postman workspace

GETData Sources
GETLaunch Detail
GETLaunch Stats
GETNext Launch
GETSearch Launches
GETUpcoming Launches

GETData Sources

https://api-space-launches.dataandapis.com/v1/sources

This endpoint takes no parameters.

Example request

curl "https://api-space-launches.dataandapis.com/v1/sources" \
  -H "X-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"

Example response

{
  "ok": true,
  "sources": [
    {
      "slug": "gcat",
      "name": "GCAT: General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects",
      "publisher": "Jonathan C. McDowell (planet4589.org)",
      "licence": "CC BY 4.0",
      "source_url": "https://planet4589.org/space/gcat/",
      "file_url": "https://planet4589.org/space/gcat/tsv/launch/launch.tsv",
      "cadence": "updated frequently upstream; occasional re-scrape",
      "record_count": 7391,
      "retrieved_at": "2026-09-06"
    },
    {
      "slug": "launch-library",
      "name": "Launch Library 2 (upcoming schedule)",
      "publisher": "The Space Devs",
      "licence": "free API (attribution appreciated)",
      "source_url": "https://thespacedevs.com/llapi",
      "file_url": "https://ll.thespacedevs.com/2.3.0/launches",
      "cadence": "daily sync (upcoming + recent)",
      "record_count": 198,
      "retrieved_at": "2026-09-06"
    }
  ]
}

GETLaunch Detail

https://api-space-launches.dataandapis.com/v1/launches/{tag}

Path parameters

Parameter	Example
tag	1969-059	Required

Example request

curl "https://api-space-launches.dataandapis.com/v1/launches/1969-059" \
  -H "X-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"

Example response

{
  "ok": true,
  "launch": {
    "tag": "1969-059",
    "date": "1969-07-16T13:32:00Z",
    "year": 1969,
    "vehicle": "Saturn V",
    "variant": null,
    "flight": "Apollo 11",
    "mission": "Apollo CM-107",
    "site_code": "KSC",
    "site_name": "NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida",
    "country": "US",
    "pad": "LC39A",
    "agency_code": "MSFC",
    "agency_name": "MSFC",
    "category": "deep space",
    "success": true,
    "apogee_km": 192,
    "inclination": 32.6,
    "dest": null
  }
}

GETLaunch Stats

https://api-space-launches.dataandapis.com/v1/launches/stats

Query parameters

Parameter	Example
by	year	Optional
year	2024	Optional

Example request

curl "https://api-space-launches.dataandapis.com/v1/launches/stats?by=year&year=2024" \
  -H "X-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"

Example response

{
  "ok": true,
  "by": "year",
  "stats": [
    {
      "group": 2026,
      "launches": 213,
      "successes": 205,
      "failures": 8
    },
    {
      "group": 2025,
      "launches": 330,
      "successes": 318,
      "failures": 12
    },
    {
      "group": 2024,
      "launches": 262,
      "successes": 256,
      "failures": 6
    },
    {
      "group": 2023,
      "launches": 221,
      "successes": 211,
      "failures": 10
    },
…

Show full response

{
  "ok": true,
  "by": "year",
  "stats": [
    {
      "group": 2026,
      "launches": 213,
      "successes": 205,
      "failures": 8
    },
    {
      "group": 2025,
      "launches": 330,
      "successes": 318,
      "failures": 12
    },
    {
      "group": 2024,
      "launches": 262,
      "successes": 256,
      "failures": 6
    },
    {
      "group": 2023,
      "launches": 221,
      "successes": 211,
      "failures": 10
    },
    {
      "group": 2022,
      "launches": 186,
      "successes": 179,
      "failures": 7
    },
    {
      "group": 2021,
      "launches": 146,
      "successes": 135,
      "failures": 11
    },
    {
      "group": 2020,
      "launches": 114,
      "successes": 104,
      "failures": 10
    },
    {
      "group": 2019,
      "launches": 103,
      "successes": 97,
      "failures": 6
    },
    {
      "group": 2018,
      "launches": 114,
      "successes": 112,
      "failures": 2
    },
    {
      "group": 2017,
      "launches": 90,
      "successes": 84,
      "failures": 6
    },
    {
      "group": 2016,
      "launches": 86,
      "successes": 83,
      "failures": 3
    },
    {
      "group": 2015,
      "launches": 87,
      "successes": 82,
      "failures": 5
    },
    {
      "group": 2014,
      "launches": 92,
      "successes": 89,
      "failures": 3
    },
    {
      "group": 2013,
      "launches": 81,
      "successes": 78,
      "failures": 3
    },
    {
      "group": 2012,
      "launches": 78,
      "successes": 73,
      "failures": 5
    },
    {
      "group": 2011,
      "launches": 84,
      "successes": 78,
      "failures": 6
    },
    {
      "group": 2010,
      "launches": 74,
      "successes": 70,
      "failures": 4
    },
    {
      "group": 2009,
      "launches": 78,
      "successes": 74,
      "failures": 4
    },
    {
      "group": 2008,
      "launches": 69,
      "successes": 66,
      "failures": 3
    },
    {
      "group": 2007,
      "launches": 68,
      "successes": 65,
      "failures": 3
    },
    {
      "group": 2006,
      "launches": 66,
      "successes": 62,
      "failures": 4
    },
    {
      "group": 2005,
      "launches": 56,
      "successes": 52,
      "failures": 4
    },
    {
      "group": 2004,
      "launches": 54,
      "successes": 51,
      "failures": 3
    },
    {
      "group": 2003,
      "launches": 64,
      "successes": 61,
      "failures": 3
    },
    {
      "group": 2002,
      "launches": 65,
      "successes": 61,
      "failures": 4
    },
    {
      "group": 2001,
      "launches": 59,
      "successes": 57,
      "failures": 2
    },
    {
      "group": 2000,
      "launches": 85,
      "successes": 81,
      "failures": 4
    },
    {
      "group": 1999,
      "launches": 78,
      "successes": 70,
      "failures": 8
    },
    {
      "group": 1998,
      "launches": 82,
      "successes": 76,
      "failures": 6
    },
    {
      "group": 1997,
      "launches": 89,
      "successes": 85,
      "failures": 4
    },
    {
      "group": 1996,
      "launches": 77,
      "successes": 71,
      "failures": 6
    },
    {
      "group": 1995,
      "launches": 80,
      "successes": 73,
      "failures": 7
    },
    {
      "group": 1994,
      "launches": 94,
      "successes": 89,
      "failures": 4
    },
    {
      "group": 1993,
      "launches": 85,
      "successes": 77,
      "failures": 6
    },
    {
      "group": 1992,
      "launches": 97,
      "successes": 94,
      "failures": 3
    },
    {
      "group": 1991,
      "launches": 91,
      "successes": 86,
      "failures": 5
    },
    {
      "group": 1990,
      "launches": 121,
      "successes": 114,
      "failures": 7
    },
    {
      "group": 1989,
      "launches": 102,
      "successes": 101,
      "failures": 1
    },
    {
      "group": 1988,
      "launches": 121,
      "successes": 115,
      "failures": 6
    },
    {
      "group": 1987,
      "launches": 114,
      "successes": 108,
      "failures": 6
    },
    {
      "group": 1986,
      "launches": 110,
      "successes": 102,
      "failures": 8
    },
    {
      "group": 1985,
      "launches": 126,
      "successes": 120,
      "failures": 5
    },
    {
      "group": 1984,
      "launches": 130,
      "successes": 126,
      "failures": 3
    },
    {
      "group": 1983,
      "launches": 129,
      "successes": 127,
      "failures": 2
    },
    {
      "group": 1982,
      "launches": 129,
      "successes": 119,
      "failures": 10
    },
    {
      "group": 1981,
      "launches": 126,
      "successes": 122,
      "failures": 4
    },
    {
      "group": 1980,
      "launches": 109,
      "successes": 103,
      "failures": 6
    },
    {
      "group": 1979,
      "launches": 110,
      "successes": 105,
      "failures": 5
    },
    {
      "group": 1978,
      "launches": 128,
      "successes": 123,
      "failures": 5
    },
    {
      "group": 1977,
      "launches": 130,
      "successes": 123,
      "failures": 7
    },
    {
      "group": 1976,
      "launches": 131,
      "successes": 126,
      "failures": 5
    },
    {
      "group": 1975,
      "launches": 132,
      "successes": 125,
      "failures": 7
    },
    {
      "group": 1974,
      "launches": 113,
      "successes": 105,
      "failures": 8
    },
    {
      "group": 1973,
      "launches": 117,
      "successes": 109,
      "failures": 8
    },
    {
      "group": 1972,
      "launches": 113,
      "successes": 105,
      "failures": 8
    },
    {
      "group": 1971,
      "launches": 133,
      "successes": 118,
      "failures": 15
    },
    {
      "group": 1970,
      "launches": 124,
      "successes": 113,
      "failures": 11
    },
    {
      "group": 1969,
      "launches": 125,
      "successes": 107,
      "failures": 18
    },
    {
      "group": 1968,
      "launches": 129,
      "successes": 118,
      "failures": 11
    },
    {
      "group": 1967,
      "launches": 139,
      "successes": 125,
      "failures": 14
    },
    {
      "group": 1966,
      "launches": 132,
      "successes": 115,
      "failures": 17
    },
    {
      "group": 1965,
      "launches": 125,
      "successes": 110,
      "failures": 14
    },
    {
      "group": 1964,
      "launches": 100,
      "successes": 85,
      "failures": 15
    },
    {
      "group": 1963,
      "launches": 70,
      "successes": 52,
      "failures": 18
    },
    {
      "group": 1962,
      "launches": 81,
      "successes": 67,
      "failures": 14
    },
    {
      "group": 1961,
      "launches": 50,
      "successes": 32,
      "failures": 18
    },
    {
      "group": 1960,
      "launches": 38,
      "successes": 19,
      "failures": 19
    },
    {
      "group": 1959,
      "launches": 25,
      "successes": 13,
      "failures": 12
    },
    {
      "group": 1958,
      "launches": 28,
      "successes": 8,
      "failures": 20
    },
    {
      "group": 1957,
      "launches": 3,
      "successes": 2,
      "failures": 1
    }
  ]
}

GETNext Launch

https://api-space-launches.dataandapis.com/v1/launches/next

This endpoint takes no parameters.

Example request

curl "https://api-space-launches.dataandapis.com/v1/launches/next" \
  -H "X-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"

Example response

{
  "ok": true,
  "launch": {
    "id": "ad358a4d-c541-409b-9366-9c2f2da4aeb9",
    "name": "Falcon 9 Block 5 | O3b mPower 11-13",
    "status": "To Be Confirmed",
    "status_abbrev": "TBC",
    "net": "2026-09-13T18:50:00Z",
    "provider": "SpaceX",
    "rocket": "Falcon 9 Block 5",
    "mission": "O3b mPower 11-13",
    "mission_type": "Communications",
    "orbit": "Medium Earth Orbit",
    "pad": "Space Launch Complex 40",
    "location": "Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA",
    "image": "https://thespacedevs-prod.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/media/images/falcon_9_image_20230807133459.jpeg",
    "last_updated": "2026-09-04T19:21:47Z",
    "updated_at": "2026-09-06 18:29:10"
  }
}

GETSearch Launches

https://api-space-launches.dataandapis.com/v1/launches

Query parameters

Parameter	Example
country		Optional
page	1	Optional
q	Apollo 11	Optional
success		Optional
vehicle		Optional
year		Optional

Example request

curl "https://api-space-launches.dataandapis.com/v1/launches?page=1&q=Apollo%2011" \
  -H "X-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"

Example response

{
  "ok": true,
  "page": 1,
  "limit": 25,
  "total": 1,
  "total_pages": 1,
  "launches": [
    {
      "tag": "1969-059",
      "date": "1969-07-16T13:32:00Z",
      "year": 1969,
      "vehicle": "Saturn V",
      "variant": null,
      "flight": "Apollo 11",
      "mission": "Apollo CM-107",
      "site_code": "KSC",
      "site_name": "NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida",
      "country": "US",
      "pad": "LC39A",
      "agency_code": "MSFC",
      "agency_name": "MSFC",
      "category": "deep space",
      "success": true,
      "apogee_km": 192,
      "inclination": 32.6,
      "dest": null
    }
  ]
…

Show full response

{
  "ok": true,
  "page": 1,
  "limit": 25,
  "total": 1,
  "total_pages": 1,
  "launches": [
    {
      "tag": "1969-059",
      "date": "1969-07-16T13:32:00Z",
      "year": 1969,
      "vehicle": "Saturn V",
      "variant": null,
      "flight": "Apollo 11",
      "mission": "Apollo CM-107",
      "site_code": "KSC",
      "site_name": "NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida",
      "country": "US",
      "pad": "LC39A",
      "agency_code": "MSFC",
      "agency_name": "MSFC",
      "category": "deep space",
      "success": true,
      "apogee_km": 192,
      "inclination": 32.6,
      "dest": null
    }
  ]
}

GETUpcoming Launches

https://api-space-launches.dataandapis.com/v1/launches/upcoming

Query parameters

Parameter	Example
limit	20	Optional

Example request

curl "https://api-space-launches.dataandapis.com/v1/launches/upcoming?limit=20" \
  -H "X-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"

Example response

{
  "ok": true,
  "count": 5,
  "note": "Schedule syncs daily from Launch Library 2 (The Space Devs).",
  "launches": [
    {
      "id": "ad358a4d-c541-409b-9366-9c2f2da4aeb9",
      "name": "Falcon 9 Block 5 | O3b mPower 11-13",
      "status": "To Be Confirmed",
      "status_abbrev": "TBC",
      "net": "2026-09-13T18:50:00Z",
      "provider": "SpaceX",
      "rocket": "Falcon 9 Block 5",
      "mission": "O3b mPower 11-13",
      "mission_type": "Communications",
      "orbit": "Medium Earth Orbit",
      "pad": "Space Launch Complex 40",
      "location": "Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA",
      "image": "https://thespacedevs-prod.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/media/images/falcon_9_image_20230807133459.jpeg",
      "last_updated": "2026-09-04T19:21:47Z",
      "updated_at": "2026-09-06 18:29:10"
    },
    {
      "id": "8effc13a-c658-4d2e-9f15-8dba4d7fe2dd",
      "name": "Vega-C | Sentinel-3C & FLEX",
      "status": "Go for Launch",
      "status_abbrev": "Go",
      "net": "2026-09-15T01:21:07Z",
…

Show full response

{
  "ok": true,
  "count": 5,
  "note": "Schedule syncs daily from Launch Library 2 (The Space Devs).",
  "launches": [
    {
      "id": "ad358a4d-c541-409b-9366-9c2f2da4aeb9",
      "name": "Falcon 9 Block 5 | O3b mPower 11-13",
      "status": "To Be Confirmed",
      "status_abbrev": "TBC",
      "net": "2026-09-13T18:50:00Z",
      "provider": "SpaceX",
      "rocket": "Falcon 9 Block 5",
      "mission": "O3b mPower 11-13",
      "mission_type": "Communications",
      "orbit": "Medium Earth Orbit",
      "pad": "Space Launch Complex 40",
      "location": "Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA",
      "image": "https://thespacedevs-prod.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/media/images/falcon_9_image_20230807133459.jpeg",
      "last_updated": "2026-09-04T19:21:47Z",
      "updated_at": "2026-09-06 18:29:10"
    },
    {
      "id": "8effc13a-c658-4d2e-9f15-8dba4d7fe2dd",
      "name": "Vega-C | Sentinel-3C & FLEX",
      "status": "Go for Launch",
      "status_abbrev": "Go",
      "net": "2026-09-15T01:21:07Z",
      "provider": "Avio S.p.A",
      "rocket": "Vega-C",
      "mission": "Sentinel-3C & FLEX",
      "mission_type": "Earth Science",
      "orbit": "Sun-Synchronous Orbit",
      "pad": "Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV)",
      "location": "Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana",
      "image": "https://thespacedevs-prod.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/media/images/vega-c_image_20220713154437.jpg",
      "last_updated": "2026-07-30T14:09:43Z",
      "updated_at": "2026-09-06 18:29:10"
    },
    {
      "id": "599ba2df-7483-4b2f-a083-2b5ddc06e069",
      "name": "Electron | LOXSAT 1",
      "status": "To Be Determined",
      "status_abbrev": "TBD",
      "net": "2026-09-30T00:00:00Z",
      "provider": "Rocket Lab",
      "rocket": "Electron",
      "mission": "LOXSAT 1",
      "mission_type": "Technology",
      "orbit": "Low Earth Orbit",
      "pad": "Unknown Pad",
      "location": "Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand",
      "image": "https://thespacedevs-prod.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/media/images/electron_image_20190705175640.jpeg",
      "last_updated": "2026-08-24T01:41:31Z",
      "updated_at": "2026-09-06 18:29:10"
    },
    {
      "id": "18441371-8b2e-457c-afb5-1ec1b11ab630",
      "name": "Falcon 9 Block 5 | Crew-13",
      "status": "To Be Determined",
      "status_abbrev": "TBD",
      "net": "2026-09-30T00:00:00Z",
      "provider": "SpaceX",
      "rocket": "Falcon 9 Block 5",
      "mission": "Crew-13",
      "mission_type": "Human Exploration",
      "orbit": "Low Earth Orbit",
      "pad": "Space Launch Complex 40",
      "location": "Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA",
      "image": "https://thespacedevs-prod.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/media/images/falcon2520925_image_20220301072106.jpeg",
      "last_updated": "2026-08-30T01:29:52Z",
      "updated_at": "2026-09-06 18:29:10"
    },
    {
      "id": "da43dc2c-00af-4cc1-8ef1-90a60b2eb9e5",
      "name": "Falcon 9 Block 5 | SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A",
      "status": "To Be Determined",
      "status_abbrev": "TBD",
      "net": "2026-09-30T00:00:00Z",
      "provider": "SpaceX",
      "rocket": "Falcon 9 Block 5",
      "mission": "SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A",
      "mission_type": "Government/Top Secret",
      "orbit": "Polar Orbit",
      "pad": "Space Launch Complex 4E",
      "location": "Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA",
      "image": "https://thespacedevs-prod.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/media/images/falcon_9_image_20230807133459.jpeg",
      "last_updated": "2026-08-27T16:00:05Z",
      "updated_at": "2026-09-06 18:29:10"
    }
  ]
}

Where the data comes from

Source: GCAT General Catalog (CC BY 4.0) for history and Launch Library 2 for the schedule.
Freshness: Schedule fetched live; history re-synced with GCAT updates.

One install. Every endpoint.

No proprietary SDKs needed. Any HTTP client works. Pick your language and paste.

3languages

6endpoints

RESTarchitecture

1key for all APIs

Fully typed responses — auto-completion in your IDE
Tracks the API in lockstep — new endpoints land same day
One key works across 125+ APIs on the platform

import axios from 'axios';

const { data } = await axios.get(
  'https://api-space-launches.dataandapis.com/v1/sources',
  { headers: { 'X-Api-Key': process.env.API_KEY } }
);

Space Launches API · X-Api-Key

Explore the endpoints

Browse request parameters and inspect live example responses.

Available Endpoints

Request Parameters

API URL

Headers

X-Api-Key

Target:

Client:

import axios from 'axios';

const url = 'https://api-space-launches.dataandapis.com/v1/sources';
const { data } = await axios.get(url, {
  headers: { 'X-Api-Key': 'YOUR_API_KEY' }
});