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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 Operations"

1,612 results found - Page 1 of 68

NASA image: Artemis II Underway Recovery Test 10
Video
Jul 25, 2023

Artemis II Underway Recovery Test 10

NASA's Landing and Recovery team, along with partners from the Department of Defense, successfully completed the...

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NASA image: SpaceX Recovery Training
Image
Feb 28, 2018

SpaceX Recovery Training

On February 28, SpaceX completed a demonstration of their ability to recover the crew and capsule after a nominal...

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NASA image: URT-3 At Sea Recovery Operation with Bolden
Image
Sep 15, 2014

URT-3 At Sea Recovery Operation with Bolden

The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is in the water-filled well deck of the USS Anchorage during the first day of...

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NASA image: URT-3 At Sea Recovery Operation with Bolden
Image
Sep 15, 2014

URT-3 At Sea Recovery Operation with Bolden

The Orion boilerplate test vehicle is secured in the well deck of the USS Anchorage during the first day of Underway...

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NASA image: URT-3 At Sea Recovery Operation with Bolden
Image
Sep 15, 2014

URT-3 At Sea Recovery Operation with Bolden

During Orion Underway Recovery Test 4A aboard the USNS Salvor, a safeguard-class rescue and salvage ship, a crane is...

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NASA image: Mercury Project
Image
May 5, 1961

Mercury Project

This photo depicts the recovery operations of the MR-3 mission. Astronaut Alan Shepard was picked up by a U.S....

MSFC
NASA image: URT-3 At Sea Recovery Operation with Bolden
Image
Sep 15, 2014

URT-3 At Sea Recovery Operation with Bolden

The Orion boilerplate test vehicle floats in the Pacific Ocean near the USS Anchorage during Underway Recovery Test...

KSC
NASA image: URT-3 At Sea Recovery Operation with Bolden
Image
Sep 15, 2014

URT-3 At Sea Recovery Operation with Bolden

The Orion boilerplate test vehicle floats in the Pacific Ocean near the USS Anchorage during Underway Recovery Test...

KSC
NASA image: URT-3 At Sea Recovery Operation with Bolden
Image
Sep 15, 2014

URT-3 At Sea Recovery Operation with Bolden

Underway Recovery Test team members help secure the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in the well deck of the USS...

KSC
NASA image: URT-3 At Sea Recovery Operation with Bolden
Image
Sep 15, 2014

URT-3 At Sea Recovery Operation with Bolden

Underway Recovery Test team members help secure the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in the well deck of the USS...

KSC
NASA image: Orion Recovery Operations Aboard the USS Portland
Video
Dec 11, 2022

Orion Recovery Operations Aboard the USS Portland

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 moves their MH-60S helicopters off the flight deck of the USS Portland (LPD 27) to...

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NASA image: U.S.S. Bennington during recovery operations for Apollo 4
Image
Nov 9, 1967

U.S.S. Bennington during recovery operations for Apollo 4

U.S.S. Bennington comes alongside the floating Apollo spacecraft 017 Command Module during recovery operations in...

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NASA image: Member of Apollo 7 crew hoisted to helicopter during recovery operations
Image
Oct 22, 1968

Member of Apollo 7 crew hoisted to helicopter during recovery operations

S68-49661 (22 Oct. 1968) --- A member of the Apollo 7 crew is hoisted up to a recovery helicopter from the USS Essex...

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NASA image: Apollo 16 Command Module during recovery operations after splashdown
Image
Apr 27, 1972

Apollo 16 Command Module during recovery operations after splashdown

S72-36602 (27 April 1972) --- The Apollo 16 Command Module bobbles photographed in the waters of the central Pacific...

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NASA image: GEMINI-TITAN (GT)-3 - RECOVERY OPERATIONS - ASTRONAUT JOHN W. YOUNG (SPACECRAFT IN WATER) - ATLANTIC
Image
Mar 23, 1965

GEMINI-TITAN (GT)-3 - RECOVERY OPERATIONS - ASTRONAUT JOHN W. YOUNG (SPACECRAFT IN WATER) - ATLANTIC

S65-22893 (23 March 1965) --- Astronaut John W. Young, the pilot of the Gemini-Titan III (GT-3) flight, waits in a...

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NASA image: Artemis II Splashdown and Recovery Operations
Image
Apr 10, 2026

Artemis II Splashdown and Recovery Operations

NASA's Orion spacecraft carrying Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist...

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NASA image: Artemis II Splashdown and Recovery Operations
Image
Apr 10, 2026

Artemis II Splashdown and Recovery Operations

NASA's Orion spacecraft carrying Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist...

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NASA image: Astronaut Walter Schirra egresses spacecraft during recovery operations
Image
Oct 22, 1968

Astronaut Walter Schirra egresses spacecraft during recovery operations

Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Apollo 7 commander, egresses the spacecraft during recovery operations in the...

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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...

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NASA image: Artemis I Leaders Discuss Orion Return, Preview Recovery Operations Dec. 5, 2022
Video
Dec 5, 2022

Artemis I Leaders Discuss Orion Return, Preview Recovery Operations Dec. 5, 2022

Leaders from NASA present an overview of the return powered flyby (RPF) burn of the Orion vehicle on December 5....

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NASA image: Apollo 11 crewmen arrive aboard U.S.S. Hornet during recovery operation
Image
Jul 24, 1969

Apollo 11 crewmen arrive aboard U.S.S. Hornet during recovery operation

S69-40753 (24 July 1969) --- The Apollo 11 crewmen, wearing biological isolation garments, arrive aboard the USS...

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

Apollo 13 crew recovery after splashdown

S70-35651 (17 April 1970) --- Astronaut John L. Swigert Jr., command module pilot, is lifted aboard a helicopter in...

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

Apollo 13 crew recovery after splashdown

S70-35625 (17 April 1970) --- Astronaut Fred W. Haise Jr., lunar module pilot, is hoisted in a "Billy Pugh" net into...

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NASA image: Orion Recovery Operations
Image
Dec 13, 2022

Orion Recovery Operations

NASA Artemis Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, at right, and Melissa Jones, NASA’s Artemis I Recovery...

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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

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Mission updates & discoveries