Free Space, Nature & Misc APIs
The catch-all category: live ISS position, who is in space right now, near-real-time space weather (geomagnetic K-index, aurora visibility forecast by coordinate, solar flare activity) from NOAA, USGS earthquakes, active significant disasters worldwide from GDACS, GBIF species sightings, every aircraft in the sky via OpenSky, plus random quotes, jokes, advice, activity ideas and cat facts.
Endpoints
| Method | Endpoint | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
GET |
/api/v1/space/iss-location |
Live ISS latitude/longitude/altitude | wheretheiss.at |
GET |
/api/v1/space/sunrise-sunset?lat=&lon=&date= |
Sunrise, sunset, solar noon and day length | sunrise-sunset.org |
GET |
/api/v1/space/people-in-space |
Who's currently in space and on which craft | open-notify.org |
GET |
/api/v1/nature/earthquakes?minMagnitude=&limit= |
Recent earthquakes | USGS |
GET |
/api/v1/nature/species?scientificName=&country=&limit= |
Live species-occurrence sightings worldwide | GBIF |
GET |
/api/v1/nature/disasters?type=&alertLevel= |
Active significant disasters worldwide: earthquakes, cyclones, floods, volcanoes, drought | GDACS |
GET |
/api/v1/space/geomagnetic-activity |
Recent planetary K-index readings (geomagnetic activity) | NOAA SWPC |
GET |
/api/v1/space/aurora-forecast?lat=&lon= |
Aurora visibility probability for a coordinate | NOAA SWPC |
GET |
/api/v1/space/solar-flares |
Latest solar flare / X-ray flux activity | NOAA SWPC |
GET |
/api/v1/misc/quote |
Random quote | DummyJSON |
GET |
/api/v1/misc/joke?category= |
Random Chuck Norris-style joke, optionally by category | chucknorris.io |
GET |
/api/v1/misc/joke/categories |
List of valid joke category ids | chucknorris.io |
GET |
/api/v1/misc/advice |
Random life advice | Advice Slip |
GET |
/api/v1/misc/activity |
Random activity suggestion for when you're bored | Bored API |
GET |
/api/v1/misc/cat-fact |
Random cat fact | Cat Fact |
GET |
/api/v1/aviation/live |
Every aircraft currently tracked worldwide (refreshed every 15 min) | OpenSky Network |
GET |
/api/v1/aviation/history |
Aircraft-count trend over the last 24 hours | OpenSky Network |
Full request/response details for every endpoint are in the API documentation.
Example request
curl "https://freeopenapi.dev/api/v1/space/iss-location" \
-H "X-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"
Works the same with ?apiKey=... as a query parameter. Every response carries
X-RateLimit-Limit / X-RateLimit-Remaining headers so you can track your budget.
Switching from another API?
Several beloved free APIs in this space have died over the years — numbersapi.com is a parked domain and the original boredapi.com is gone. We track and absorb replacements (like the community-maintained Bored API fork) so your integration keeps working without chasing new providers.
Frequently asked questions
How live is the ISS position?
Every request returns the ISS's position within a few seconds of its real, current location.
Can I check if I'll see the aurora tonight?
Yes — the aurora-forecast endpoint returns NOAA's aurora visibility probability for any latitude/longitude, refreshed roughly hourly.
Are the disaster alerts worldwide?
Yes — GDACS tracks significant (Orange/Red alert level) earthquakes, tropical cyclones, floods, volcanic activity and drought globally, filterable by type.
How does the flight-tracking endpoint work?
A snapshot of every aircraft tracked worldwide (typically 9,000-13,000 planes) refreshes every 15 minutes, plus a 24-hour aggregate history endpoint.
Is the space and nature API really free?
Yes. The free tier includes 100 requests per day and only requires a verified email address — no credit card. Paid Pro and Business tiers raise the daily limit.
How do I get an API key?
Request a key with your email address on the Docs page, click the confirmation link we send you, and your key is active immediately on the free tier.