# get_iss_passes

When the International Space Station will pass over a location in the next 3 days: start time (UTC), maximum elevation, duration, and whether the pass is in a good viewing window (evening/pre-dawn). Provide a city name OR latitude+longitude.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `get_iss_passes`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/com-gocosmik-cosmik/get-iss-passes

## Facts

- Tool: `get_iss_passes`
- Server: Cosmik (`https://gocosmik.com/api/mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/com-gocosmik-cosmik.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/crashedfox/cosmik-mcp
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade C, identity unverified
- Server auth posture: open
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 3
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `lat` | number | no | Latitude in decimal degrees (-90 to 90), used with lon when no city is given |
| `lon` | number | no | Longitude in decimal degrees (-180 to 180), used with lat when no city is given |
| `city` | string | no | City name, e.g. 'Paris', 'New York' — 550+ major cities known; takes precedence over lat/lon |

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "get_iss_passes",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why get_iss_passes is rated Low

This is a pure data retrieval tool that queries astronomical/orbital prediction data based on a user-provided location. It does not modify any data, execute code, delete anything, or commit financial obligations. The only parameter is a location identifier (city name or coordinates), which constrains the scope of misuse.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool retrieves ISS pass prediction data ('When the International Space Station will pass', 'start time', 'maximum elevation', 'duration'). Accepts location input and returns observational information with no side effects, modifications, or actions triggered."

## Use case

AI agents call get_iss_passes to retrieve information from Cosmik without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Cosmik:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "get_iss_passes": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Cosmik (2)

- `get_launch_news` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/com-gocosmik-cosmik/get-launch-news.md
- `get_next_launches` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/com-gocosmik-cosmik/get-next-launches.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=com-gocosmik-cosmik · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/com-gocosmik-cosmik