Title: Next Rocket Launch Tracker Author: catherdercam Published: August 27, 2026 Last modified: August 27, 2026 --- Search plugins ![](https://ps.w.org/next-rocket-launch-tracker/assets/banner-772x250.png?rev=3669344) ![](https://ps.w.org/next-rocket-launch-tracker/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=3669344) # Next Rocket Launch Tracker By [catherdercam](https://profiles.wordpress.org/catherdercam/) [Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/next-rocket-launch-tracker.1.1.7.zip) * [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/next-rocket-launch-tracker/#description) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/next-rocket-launch-tracker/#reviews) * [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/next-rocket-launch-tracker/#installation) * [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/next-rocket-launch-tracker/#developers) [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/next-rocket-launch-tracker/) ## Description Next Rocket Launch Tracker adds a `[nextrlt_next_launch]` shortcode that displays upcoming rocket launches, pulled from The Space Devs’ free Launch Library 2 API. Point it at any launch site (or all of them), pick how much detail to show, and drop it into a post, page, or widget area. **Features** * `[nextrlt_next_launch]` shortcode with attributes for location, launch count, layout, color theme, and which fields to show (image, countdown, provider, pad, orbit, status, description). * Three layouts (card, list, compact), each with an optional slider mode that shows one launch at a time with prev/next arrows. * Optional light or dark color theme that forces a matching card background, independent of the surrounding page or the visitor’s OS preference. * A visual Shortcode Builder screen (Settings > Next Rocket Launch Tracker Builder) with toggle switches, dropdowns, and a live-updating shortcode preview you can copy with one click. * A searchable, multi-select location picker backed by the live API, pre-populated with the most active launch sites. * An Elementor widget (search for “Next Rocket Launch Tracker” in the widget panel) with the same options as the shortcode, for sites that build pages with Elementor. * Launches never call the API during a normal page view: a WP-Cron job refreshes a cached copy on a schedule you control, and the last good response is served if the API is ever unreachable or rate-limited. * Automatically filters out launches the upstream API still lists as “upcoming” moments after they’ve already flown. #### Where the data comes from Launch data is provided by [The Space Devs’ Launch Library 2 API](https://ll.thespacedevs.com/), a free, public, community-funded API. This plugin is not affiliated with The Space Devs. See “External services” below for what this plugin sends and when. ### External services This plugin connects to The Space Devs’ Launch Library 2 API to retrieve upcoming launch data and launch-site names. * **Service:** The Space Devs Launch Library 2 (`https://ll.thespacedevs.com`), or `https://lldev.thespacedevs.com` if the “development endpoint” option is turned on in Settings > Next Rocket Launch Tracker. * **What is sent:** only the numeric launch-location IDs configured in the shortcode/ settings, and any text an administrator types into the location search box on the Settings or Shortcode Builder screens. No visitor data, personal information, or site content is ever transmitted. * **When it’s sent:** on a background WP-Cron schedule (hourly by default, configurable) to refresh the cached launch list, and on-demand when an administrator uses the location search. The API is never called while a visitor is viewing a page. * **Terms of Service:** [github.com/TheSpaceDevs/Tutorials](https://github.com/TheSpaceDevs/Tutorials/blob/main/faqs/faq_TSD.md). Review their terms before relying on this plugin for a production site; the API is funded through Patreon and a credit link is appreciated. * **Privacy Policy:** [thespacedevs.com/privacy](https://thespacedevs.com/privacy) ### Development Found a bug or want to contribute? The source is on GitHub: [github.com/CatHerderCam/Next-Rocket-Launch-Tracker](https://github.com/CatHerderCam/Next-Rocket-Launch-Tracker). ## Installation 1. Take a backup of your site first. 2. Upload the plugin through Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin, or upload the `next- rocket-launch-tracker` folder to `wp-content/plugins/`. 3. Activate the plugin. 4. Go to Settings > Next Rocket Launch Tracker to set default locations, and Settings > Next Rocket Launch Tracker Builder to build a shortcode visually. 5. Place `[nextrlt_next_launch]` (or a customized version of it) into any post, page, or widget area that supports shortcodes. ## FAQ ### How do I find a launch site’s location ID? Use the search box on the Settings > Next Rocket Launch Tracker screen, or the location picker on Settings > Next Rocket Launch Tracker Builder — both query the live API and show real IDs. Don’t guess; Cape Canaveral SFS and Kennedy Space Center, for example, are separate locations with separate IDs. ### Will this slow down my site or get me rate-limited? No. The plugin never calls the API on a normal page view. A WP-Cron job refreshes a cached copy on a schedule you control (15 minutes minimum), and the last good response is served if the API is ever down or rate-limited. ### What happens if the API is unreachable? Visitors see the last successfully cached data instead of an empty box. Only if there has never been a successful response does the shortcode fall back to its configurable“ empty” message. Errors are written to the debug log when `WP_DEBUG` is on, never shown to visitors. ### Can I make it match my site’s dark or light design? Yes. The `theme` attribute (or the “Color surface” option in the Shortcode Builder) accepts `auto` (blends into the page, follows the visitor’s OS preference), `light`, or `dark`. The bundled CSS also exposes custom properties (`--nextrlt-border`, `-- nextrlt-muted`, `--nextrlt-go`, and others) for deeper theme integration, or you can disable the bundled stylesheet entirely in Settings. ### Does the slider work without JavaScript? Yes. Without JavaScript the launches simply stack vertically like the non-slider layouts, so nothing traps a visitor on a single item. ### Does this work with Elementor? Yes. If Elementor is active, a “Next Rocket Launch Tracker” widget appears in the widget panel (search for it, or find it under the Next Rocket Launch Tracker category) with the same options as the shortcode. ## Reviews There are no reviews for this plugin. ## Contributors & Developers “Next Rocket Launch Tracker” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin. Contributors * [ catherdercam ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/catherdercam/) [Translate “Next Rocket Launch Tracker” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/next-rocket-launch-tracker) ### Interested in development? [Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/next-rocket-launch-tracker/), check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/next-rocket-launch-tracker/), or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/next-rocket-launch-tracker/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/next-rocket-launch-tracker/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss). ## Changelog #### 1.1.7 * Added: `Plugin URI` header and a `== Development ==` readme section linking to the GitHub repository. #### 1.1.6 * Changed: every function, class, option, hook, nonce, shortcode tag, CSS class, and file name now uses the `nextrlt` prefix (was `sdnl`), per WordPress.org plugin review feedback about unique naming. * Changed: the shortcode tag is now `[nextrlt_next_launch]` (was `[next_launch]`) so it carries a unique prefix too. * Fixed: the location-search script on Settings > Next Rocket Launch Tracker is now loaded with `wp_enqueue_script()` instead of being printed inline. * Changed: the readme’s External services section now links directly to the Launch Library 2 API’s terms of service and privacy policy. * Fixed: WordPress Coding Standards (PHPCS/WPCS) issues — missing docblocks, array formatting, and the reserved word `default` used as a parameter name. #### 1.1.5 * Changed: plugin renamed from “Next Launch” to “Next Rocket Launch Tracker” (slug and text domain now `next-rocket-launch-tracker`), per WordPress.org plugin review naming/trademark feedback. #### 1.1.4 * Added: a Next Launch widget for Elementor, with the same options as the `[next_launch]` shortcode. Only loads on sites that have Elementor active. #### 1.1.3 * Changed: plugin header author updated to `catherdercam`; removed the `Plugin URI` header. * Fixed: a zip-packaging issue where the plugin’s main file could be extracted with an incorrect path, causing header detection to fail. #### 1.1.2 * Changed: plugin name shortened from “SpaceDevs Next Launch” to “Next Launch” to match the plugin slug and text domain. #### 1.1.1 * Fixed: the plugin folder and main file were renamed from `spacedevs-next-launch` to `next-launch` to match the plugin’s slug and text domain. #### 1.1.0 * Added: a visual Shortcode Builder admin screen with toggle switches, dropdowns, and a live, copyable shortcode preview. * Added: a searchable, multi-select location picker backed by the live API. * Added: `theme` attribute (`auto` / `light` / `dark`) for a forced light or dark card background. * Added: `slider` attribute — shows one launch at a time with prev/next arrows, compatible with all three layouts. * Fixed: the location-search API endpoint was pointed at a path that returned a 404 on the current API version; location search now works. * Fixed: the “upcoming” launch list could briefly keep showing a launch for hours after it had already flown; results are now filtered by status before display. * Fixed: a box-sizing issue that could misalign slider frames by the width of their padding and border. #### 1.0.0 * Initial release: `[next_launch]` shortcode, settings screen with location search, WP-Cron-backed caching with stale-response fallback. ## Meta * Version **1.1.7** * Last updated **17 hours ago** * Active installations **Fewer than 10** * WordPress version ** 5.8 or higher ** * Tested up to **7.1** * PHP version ** 7.4 or higher ** * Tags * [countdown](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/countdown/)[shortcode](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/shortcode/) [spacex](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/spacex/)[widget](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/widget/) * [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/next-rocket-launch-tracker/advanced/) ## Ratings No reviews have been submitted yet. [Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/next-rocket-launch-tracker/reviews/#new-post) [See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/next-rocket-launch-tracker/reviews/) ## Contributors * [ catherdercam ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/catherdercam/) ## Support Got something to say? Need help? [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/next-rocket-launch-tracker/)