NASA WorldWind

Spec sheet

What it does

NASA WorldWind is a virtual globe and geospatial visualization platform for exploring and displaying geographic information in 3D and 2D.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Integrations

The SDKs support OGC WMS and related geospatial services, and Android release notes list WMS, WMTS, WCS and GeoPackage support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Support

The Java resources include API documentation and a community support forum; source code and issue tracking are managed through GitHub.Read 10 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

License

Web WorldWind and WorldWind Java are licensed under Apache License 2.0, while the Android repository states NASA Open Source Agreement 1.3.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

2D maps

The web SDK provides 2D map mode with selectable and extensible projections.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

3D models

Web WorldWind tutorials demonstrate loading COLLADA .dae models asynchronously and placing them on the globe.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Analysis features

WorldWind Java includes measurement, line-of-sight analysis, terrain intersection, and shape interactions.Read 10 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Android release

The Android repository documents version 0.8.0 as the Gradle dependency and provides 0.9.0-SNAPSHOT artifacts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Android SDK

WorldWind Android supplies a library, examples and tutorials for 3D virtual-globe applications on phones and tablets.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Build requirements

The Web WorldWind build is documented as working with Node.js 12.18.0 LTS and provides npm build, documentation and test commands.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Company founding

NASA opened for business on October 1, 1958, after the National Aeronautics and Space Act created it.Read 15 Oct 2026 · nasa.gov

Company headquarters

NASA Headquarters is in Washington, DC.Read 15 Oct 2026 · nasa.gov

Company legal name

The maker is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a U.S. government agency.Read 15 Oct 2026 · nasa.gov

Data and protocols

Web WorldWind supports REST, WMS, and Bing and can display imagery, terrain, and geographic data from public or private sources.Read 10 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Data services

Web WorldWind supports REST, WMS and Bing data services.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Desktop graphics requirement

WorldWind Java requires a modern graphics card with a current driver; outdated drivers are identified as a common display problem.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Documentation

The developer guide covers functionality, user guidance and documentation for every Web WorldWind module.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Geocoding

The navigation API includes a Nominatim geocoder based on OpenStreetMap data through MapQuest.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Hosting

The WorldWind Server Kit extends GeoServer to provide a geospatial solution for hosting data.Read 10 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Imagery and terrain

It includes built-in high-resolution imagery and terrain and can retrieve custom geographic data from public or private sources.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Java data formats

WorldWind Java lists support for imagery, government and GIS formats including GeoTIFF, NITF, Shapefile, KML, GeoJSON, and GPX.Read 10 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Java SDK

WorldWind Java is a cross-platform Java SDK for desktop 3D geospatial applications.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Java support

WorldWind Java runs on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux and uses Java and OpenGL.Read 10 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Latest web release

The Web WorldWind repository identifies version 0.11.0 and records COLLADA, placemark-picking and Well-Known Text improvements.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

License warranty

The Apache-licensed SDKs are supplied without warranties under the license terms.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Licensing

The site describes WorldWind as completely open source and says the Java edition has a free run-time and development license.Read 10 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Limit: address search

A University of Wisconsin review reported that the desktop client could search by city but not type a street address.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sco.wisc.edu

Limit: project freshness

SourceForge lists the Windows project’s last update as 2013-05-08.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net

Limit: service outages

NASA warned that default geospatial data services could experience outages lasting two to four hours per server during April 2023 maintenance.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Limit: web setup

The introductory web guide requires a development web server because Web WorldWind is intended to run as part of a web application.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Multiple views

A web page can display multiple independent globes or maps.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Navigation and picking

The web SDK provides globe navigation, viewing controls and object picking.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Notable news

NASA’s WorldWind Android repository says NASA renewed its commitment to continued SDK development, support and server accessibility.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Praise: data variety

The same review praised its immediately available NASA and USGS raster datasets, including satellite, topographic and orthophoto views.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sco.wisc.edu

Praise: ease of use

A University of Wisconsin reviewer described WorldWind as easy to navigate after installation, using mouse controls to pan and zoom globally.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sco.wisc.edu

Praise: extensibility

The University of Wisconsin review highlighted adding WMS data and modifying source code as major advantages.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sco.wisc.edu

Public APIs

NASA publishes JavaScript, Java and Android APIs with module documentation and examples.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Rating on SourceForge

4.7 out of 5 stars from 28 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net

Self-hosting

Web WorldWind can be deployed on an application’s own HTTP server, including an offline example workflow.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Service limitation

The site says geospatial data services that feed clients by default were undergoing maintenance and that outages could occur during April 2023.Read 10 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Shapes

Supported graphics include placemarks, paths, curtains, polygons, extruded polygons, text, graticules and shapefiles.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

SourceForge review sentiment

SourceForge reviewers repeatedly described the software as free, user-friendly, recommendable and enjoyable.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net

Use cases

Organizations use WorldWind to monitor weather, visualize cities and terrain, track vehicles, analyze geospatial data, and support education about Earth.Read 10 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Visualization

It renders interactive 3D globes and 2D maps for visualizing geographic information.Read 10 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Web globe

Web WorldWind is a JavaScript 3D planetary globe engine for HTML5 web applications.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Web support

Web WorldWind is written in JavaScript and runs on major operating systems, desktop and mobile devices, and web browsers.Read 10 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

What it is

WorldWind is an open-source planetary globe 3D engine and SDK for developers building geospatial applications.Read 10 Oct 2026 · worldwind.arc.nasa.gov

Plans and prices

Every NASA WorldWind plan and price →

Where Specifiction places it

• GIS Software#5 of 648.6
• 3D Visualization Software#13 of 518.5