M
API Matrix

Launch Library 2 API

⭐ Beginner's Pick Science & Math / No Auth Required Beginner HTTPS CORS
Free to Use Varies (check documentation)
87 Score
Grade A
Visit Official Site Compare Alternatives

Overview

Launch Library 2 is a free, comprehensive API for spaceflight launches, rockets, missions, and events maintained by The Space Devs community. You can retrieve upcoming and historical launch data including launch vehicles, launch sites, agencies, and astronaut crews. It is one of the best space APIs for beginners because it requires no authentication and has excellent documentation.

💡

Beginner Tip

Start by querying the upcoming launches endpoint to get a list of the next rocket launches with all mission details. The API supports filtering, ordering, and pagination through URL query parameters.

Available Data

space mission data
celestial body information
launch schedule
astronomical images
event dates and names
holiday lists by country

Example Response

JSON Response 
{
  "title": "The Great Gatsby",
  "authors": [
    "F. Scott Fitzgerald"
  ],
  "publishedDate": "1925-04-10",
  "pageCount": 218,
  "categories": [
    "Fiction"
  ],
  "imageLinks": {
    "thumbnail": "https://books.google.com/..."
  },
  "averageRating": 4
}

Field Reference

id Unique UUID identifier for the launch record.
name Name of the launch mission.
net No Earlier Than (NET) launch time in ISO 8601 UTC format.
status.name Current status of the launch (e.g., Go for Launch, TBD, Launch Successful).
rocket.configuration.name Name of the launch vehicle or rocket used.
launch_service_provider.name Name of the organization conducting the launch.

Implementation Example 

const url = "https://thespacedevs.com/llapi";
const response = await fetch(url);
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

What Can You Build?

Note: These code examples are AI-generated and unverified. Always refer to the official API documentation for accurate usage.

Common Errors & Troubleshooting

429 Too Many Requests The free tier has a rate limit of 15 requests per hour.
✓ Cache API responses locally and implement retry logic with exponential backoff to stay within limits.
net::ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED Using the wrong base URL for the API version.
✓ Use https://ll.thespacedevs.com/2.2.0/ as the base URL for the stable Launch Library 2 API.
Missing net_launch_time field The launch time is not yet confirmed and may be listed as TBD.
✓ Check the status.abbrev field for launch readiness (e.g., "Go", "TBD") before using the time.

Matrix Score Breakdown

🌐 Reachability 30/30
⚡ Speed 15/20
🔒 Security 15/15
🛠 Developer XP 20/20
✓ Reliability 7/15
Response Time 301ms

Fully tested on Apr 5, 2026

Technical Specifications

Auth No Auth
HTTPS REQUIRED
CORS YES
Category Science & Math
Difficulty Beginner
Verified: 2026-04-04

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