Mission Control Launch Screensaver
The Mission Control screensaver is a countdown board to the next rocket launch on Earth, showing the vehicle, agency and pad with a live T-minus clock, from the key-less Launch Library 2 spaceflight API. It's free, runs in your browser, and ESC exits.
How the Mission Control screensaver works
The saver fetches the upcoming-launch schedule from the free Launch Library 2 API, which tracks rockets from every major space agency and company.
It locks onto the soonest launch and counts down to its liftoff time with a live T-minus clock, recomputed every frame.
The board shows the rocket, the agency or company, the launch pad and location, and the current go/hold status, with the next few launches listed below.
When a launch time passes, the board rolls on to the next one in the schedule.
A worked example
You might see T- 02:14:09 ticking down to a Falcon 9 · Starlink from Cape Canaveral, with the next few missions queued underneath. Filter to a single provider and the board follows only that agency's launches.
Settings & tips
- Agency filters the board to one provider (e.g. SpaceX or NASA) or shows all launches.
- Accent recolours the console glow.
- Background sets the console backdrop.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the countdown real?
- Yes. The launch time comes from the Launch Library 2 schedule and the T-minus clock counts down to that real liftoff target, updating live.
- Where does the data come from?
- The Launch Library 2 API by The Space Devs — a free, key-less database of upcoming orbital launches worldwide.
- Why did the launch on the board change?
- Schedules slip and launches happen. When the soonest one passes or is rescheduled, the board advances to the next upcoming launch.
- Does it need a key?
- No. The API is free and key-less; the saver only needs an internet connection and refreshes occasionally to respect rate limits.
- Is it free?
- Yes — free, no download, runs in your browser.