FIRST News API vs Spaceflight News
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
FIRST News API vs Spaceflight News: common questions
Which is more reliable, FIRST News API or Spaceflight News?
On our scheduled checks, FIRST News API leads on measured uptime — FIRST News API at 100% versus Spaceflight News at 95.1% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.
Which is faster, FIRST News API or Spaceflight News?
FIRST News API has the lower median latency in our checks — FIRST News API responds in 780 ms versus Spaceflight News at 864 ms (P50). Tail latency (P95) is in the table above; for most workloads the median is the number that shapes how the API feels.
Do FIRST News API and Spaceflight News need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — FIRST News API is callable with no signup, and Spaceflight News is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.
Can I call FIRST News API and Spaceflight News from the browser?
Yes — both FIRST News API and Spaceflight News send CORS headers over HTTPS, so front-end code can fetch either directly with no backend proxy. That makes them easy to swap in a client-side app while you compare responses.
Are FIRST News API and Spaceflight News free for commercial use?
FIRST News API has unclear commercial terms, and Spaceflight News has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.