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This website is not affiliated with, maintained, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with NASA or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. All NASA imagery is in the public domain unless otherwise noted. Data sourced from NASA Open APIs, Launch Library 2, and other open data services.

NASA Gallery

Explore NASA's vast collection of space images, videos, and audio from missions past and present.

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NASA's Image and Video Library: A Visual Archive of Space Exploration

NASA's Image and Video Library is one of the most comprehensive public archives of space imagery in the world, containing over 140,000 images, videos, and audio recordings spanning more than six decades of space exploration. From the earliest Mercury and Gemini missions through the Apollo Moon landings, the Space Shuttle era, and today's cutting-edge observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, this collection documents humanity's journey into the cosmos.

The library includes imagery from diverse sources: telescopes like Hubble and Webb that capture deep-space nebulae, galaxies, and exoplanets; planetary missions like the Mars rovers ( browse Mars photos) and Cassini at Saturn; Earth observation satellites ( see EPIC imagery); astronaut photography from the ISS; and documentation of rocket launches, spacecraft assembly, and ground testing. Most NASA images are in the public domain and free to download at full resolution for educational, editorial, and personal use.

Use the search bar above to find specific subjects — try queries like "Apollo 11," "Hubble Deep Field," "Mars surface," or "astronaut EVA." You can also filter by media type (image, video, or audio). For a daily curated experience, visit the Astronomy Picture of the Day.

Showing results for "RECOVERY WATER LANDING"

105 results found - Page 1 of 5

NASA image: Astronaut Alan Shepard is rescued by helicopter at end of MR-3 flight
Image
May 5, 1961

Astronaut Alan Shepard is rescued by helicopter at end of MR-3 flight

S88-31376 (5 May 1961) --- Astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr., pilot of the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) suborbital...

JSC
NASA image: Apollo 13 crew recovery after splashdown
Image
Apr 17, 1970

Apollo 13 crew recovery after splashdown

S70-35610 (17 April 1970) --- A water level view of the Apollo 13 recovery operations in the South Pacific Ocean....

JSC
NASA image: Underway Recovery Test 9 (URT-9) - Day 3 Activities
Image
Nov 4, 2021

Underway Recovery Test 9 (URT-9) - Day 3 Activities

Open Water Lead Tim Goddard points the way to the smoke the helicopter dropped in the water, indicating the location...

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NASA image: Skylab 3 Command Module is hoisted aboard prime recovery ship
Image
Sep 25, 1973

Skylab 3 Command Module is hoisted aboard prime recovery ship

S73-36423 (25 Sept. 1973) --- The Skylab 3 Command Module, with astronauts Alan L. Bean, Owen K. Garriott and Jack...

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NASA image: Navy Swimmers Assist - Recovery of Skylab (SL)-3 Command Module (CM) - Pacific
Image
Sep 25, 1973

Navy Swimmers Assist - Recovery of Skylab (SL)-3 Command Module (CM) - Pacific

S73-36401 (25 Sept. 1973) --- A team of U.S. Navy swimmers assists with the recovery of the Skylab 3 Command Module...

JSC
NASA image: KSC-2009-2554
Image
Apr 8, 2009

KSC-2009-2554

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle floats in the water at the Trident Basin at Port...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2009-2566
Image
Apr 8, 2009

KSC-2009-2566

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle floats in the water at the Trident Basin at Port...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2009-2558
Image
Apr 8, 2009

KSC-2009-2558

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is prepared to be lifted into the water at the...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2009-2506
Image
Apr 2, 2009

KSC-2009-2506

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida is the Orion crew...

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NASA image: KSC-2009-2503
Image
Apr 2, 2009

KSC-2009-2503

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Visitors to the Visitor Complex at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida get a look at the...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2009-2560
Image
Apr 8, 2009

KSC-2009-2560

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing help prepare the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle for...

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NASA image: KSC-2009-2561
Image
Apr 8, 2009

KSC-2009-2561

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Flotation devices are attached to the top of the mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle before...

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NASA image: KSC-2009-2559
Image
Apr 8, 2009

KSC-2009-2559

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is lowered into the water at the Trident Basin at...

KSC
NASA image: Artemis II CMTA Turn Basin Testing
Image
Jan 30, 2023

Artemis II CMTA Turn Basin Testing

Landing and recovery team members secure the Crew Module Test Article (CMTA) in the water at the turn basin in the...

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NASA image: KSC-2009-2551
Image
Apr 8, 2009

KSC-2009-2551

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is prepared to be lifted into the water at the...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2009-2565
Image
Apr 8, 2009

KSC-2009-2565

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing secure a flotation collar around the mockup Orion crew...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2009-2550
Image
Apr 8, 2009

KSC-2009-2550

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is on the dock at the Trident Basin at Port...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2009-2564
Image
Apr 8, 2009

KSC-2009-2564

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing release a flotation collar around the mockup Orion crew...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2009-2552
Image
Apr 8, 2009

KSC-2009-2552

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is lowered toward the water at the Trident Basin at...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2009-2557
Image
Apr 8, 2009

KSC-2009-2557

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is on the dock at the Trident Basin at Port...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2009-2553
Image
Apr 8, 2009

KSC-2009-2553

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The mockup Orion crew exploration vehicle is lowered into the water at the Trident Basin at...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2009-2563
Image
Apr 8, 2009

KSC-2009-2563

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Members of the 920th Rescue Wing release a flotation collar around the mockup Orion crew...

KSC
NASA image: Underway Recovery  Test 7 (URT-7) - Day 2 Activities
Image
Oct 31, 2018

Underway Recovery Test 7 (URT-7) - Day 2 Activities

Small boats used by U.S. Navy divers are lowered into the water in preparation for the dive teams to race out to a...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2009-2505
Image
Apr 2, 2009

KSC-2009-2505

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A NASA official talks to visitors at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida...

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Frequently Asked Questions About NASA Images

Are NASA images free to use?+
Yes, most NASA images are in the public domain and are free to use for educational, informational, and personal purposes. NASA's media usage guidelines state that NASA material is not copyrighted unless otherwise noted. However, the NASA logo and certain insignia are protected. Some images may include identifiable individuals or third-party content that requires additional permissions. Always check the specific image's usage rights and credit NASA as the source.
How many images does NASA have?+
NASA's Image and Video Library contains over 140,000 publicly accessible images, videos, and audio files spanning the agency's entire history, from the Mercury program of the 1960s to the latest James Webb Space Telescope discoveries. The collection grows daily as new missions capture imagery and archival materials are digitized. Individual mission archives, such as Mars rover photos, contain hundreds of thousands of additional images.
Can I download NASA images?+
Yes, you can download NASA images in multiple resolutions directly from this gallery. Each image detail page provides download links for original (full resolution), large (1920px), medium (960px), small (480px), and thumbnail sizes. NASA encourages the public to use these images for education, media, and personal projects. High-resolution originals are ideal for printing and professional use.

Explore More NASA Content

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Daily curated space image

Mars Rover Photos

Curiosity & Perseverance images

Earth from Space

DSCOVR EPIC daily images

Launch Schedule

Upcoming rocket launches

Space News

Mission updates & discoveries