Photon API vs Spaceflight News
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
Photon API vs Spaceflight News: common questions
Which is more reliable, Photon API or Spaceflight News?
On our scheduled checks, Photon API leads on measured uptime — Photon API at 99.02% 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, Photon API or Spaceflight News?
Photon API has the lower median latency in our checks — Photon API responds in 710 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 Photon API and Spaceflight News need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — Photon 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 Photon API and Spaceflight News from the browser?
Yes — both Photon 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 Photon API and Spaceflight News free for commercial use?
Photon 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.