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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 "characterization testing"

296 results found - Page 1 of 13

NASA image: NASA's SOFIA flying observatory was captured in striking relief during nighttime telescope characterization tests in Palmdale, Calif., in March 2008
Image
Mar 10, 2008

NASA's SOFIA flying observatory was captured in striking relief during nighttime telescope characterization tests in Palmdale, Calif., in March 2008

The SOFIA telescope team collected baseline operational measurements during several nights of characterization...

AFRC
NASA image: Wispy clouds are illuminated by a bright quarter moon behind the tail of NASA's SOFIA flying observatory during telescope characterization testing in 2008
Image
Mar 10, 2008

Wispy clouds are illuminated by a bright quarter moon behind the tail of NASA's SOFIA flying observatory during telescope characterization testing in 2008

The SOFIA telescope team collected baseline operational measurements during several nights of characterization...

AFRC
NASA image: This backlit photo of SOFIA's infrared telescope during characterization testing shows the cell-like construction of the telescope's 2.5-meter primary mirror
Image
Mar 10, 2008

This backlit photo of SOFIA's infrared telescope during characterization testing shows the cell-like construction of the telescope's 2.5-meter primary mirror

The SOFIA telescope team collected baseline operational measurements during several nights of characterization...

AFRC
NASA image: The 2.5-meter infrared telescope in the rear fuselage of NASA's SOFIA flying observatory tracked the star Polaris during characterization tests in March 2008
Image
Mar 10, 2008

The 2.5-meter infrared telescope in the rear fuselage of NASA's SOFIA flying observatory tracked the star Polaris during characterization tests in March 2008

The SOFIA telescope team collected baseline operational measurements during several nights of characterization...

AFRC
NASA image: Scientists and telescope operators focus on data readouts set up inside NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory during telescope characterization tracking tests
Image
Mar 10, 2008

Scientists and telescope operators focus on data readouts set up inside NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory during telescope characterization tracking tests

The SOFIA telescope team collected baseline operational measurements during several nights of characterization...

AFRC
NASA image: Dawn Framing Camera Views Carina
Image
Jun 4, 2009

Dawn Framing Camera Views Carina

This view in the southern constellation Carina was acquired on December 13, 2007 as part of the characterization...

JPL
NASA image: A View of Oskison in Mercury North
Image
Apr 7, 2009

A View of Oskison in Mercury North

This view in the southern constellation Carina was acquired on December 13, 2007 as part of the characterization...

JPL
NASA image: Aurora Flight Sciences' Perseus B Remotely Piloted Aircraft in Flight
Image
Jun 5, 1998

Aurora Flight Sciences' Perseus B Remotely Piloted Aircraft in Flight

A long, slender wing and a pusher propeller at the rear characterize the Perseus B remotely piloted research...

AFRC
NASA image: Perseus B over Edwards AFB on a Development Flight
Image
Jun 5, 1998

Perseus B over Edwards AFB on a Development Flight

A long, slender wing and a pusher propeller at the rear characterize the Perseus B remotely-piloted research...

AFRC
NASA image: Aurora Flight Sciences' Perseus B Remotely Piloted Aircraft in Flight
Image
Jun 5, 1998

Aurora Flight Sciences' Perseus B Remotely Piloted Aircraft in Flight

A long, slender wing and a pusher propeller at the rear characterize the Perseus B remotely piloted research...

AFRC
NASA image: As SOFIA's large telescope assembly slowly rotates, scientists and telescope operators review data readouts and imagery on their monitors during tracking tests
Image
Mar 10, 2008

As SOFIA's large telescope assembly slowly rotates, scientists and telescope operators review data readouts and imagery on their monitors during tracking tests

The SOFIA telescope team collected baseline operational measurements during several nights of characterization...

AFRC
NASA image: Nominal Wet Flow Test at Pad 39B - DRONE
Video
Sep 14, 2019

Nominal Wet Flow Test at Pad 39B - DRONE

Exploration Ground Systems wet flow test at Pad 39B September 14, 2019, included a single valve failure test flow to...

KSC
NASA image: jsc2021e007964
Image
Sep 30, 2020

jsc2021e007964

jsc2021e007964 (9/30/2020) --- Post-integration solar array characterization testing. The Ionosphere Thermosphere...

JSC
NASA image: Space Biofilms 1
Image
Oct 28, 2019

Space Biofilms 1

jsc2020e003406 (10/28/2019) --- A preflight view of a Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) 24-Well plate in fungal...

JSC
Image
Nov 2, 2023

GRC-2023-C-11746

Test engineers clean the ice cloud detection probe in the Icing Research Tunnel in between test runs. Steam is used...

GRC
NASA image: NASA Marshall Fires Up Motor to Prepare for Moon Landings
Video
Apr 28, 2025

NASA Marshall Fires Up Motor to Prepare for Moon Landings

This video shows a hybrid rocket motor test firing at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama....

MSFC
NASA image: Around Marshall
Image
Oct 31, 1997

Around Marshall

The Shooting Star Experiment (SSE) is designed to develop and demonstrate the technology required to focus the sun's...

MSFC
NASA image: Space Biofilms 1
Image
Oct 30, 2019

Space Biofilms 1

jsc2020e003405 (10/30/2019) --- A preflight view of BioServe’s Fluid Processing Apparatus (FPA) in a three-chamber...

JSC
NASA image: Preflight Imagery for the CARMEn Investigation
Image
Dec 10, 2021

Preflight Imagery for the CARMEn Investigation

jsc2021e063277 (12/10/2021) --- Preflight imagery for the Characterizing Antibiotic Resistance in Microgravity...

JSC
NASA image: NERDI-1B
Image
May 12, 2025

NERDI-1B

jsc2025e044728 (5/12/2025) --- NERDI-1B prior to integration onto STP-H10. The primary objective of the Space Test...

JSC
NASA image: jsc2022e091370
Image
Dec 7, 2022

jsc2022e091370

jsc2022e091370 (12/7/2022) --- The Space Test Program - Houston 9 - Experiment for Characterizing the Lower...

JSC
NASA image: Kopra
Image
Mar 16, 2016

Kopra

ISS047e010094 (03/16/2016) --- Expedition 47 Commander Tim Kopra of NASA participates in the Ocular Health...

JSC
NASA image: OUR ALIEN EARTH: The Undersea Volcanoes of Santorini, Greece
Video
Aug 22, 2024

OUR ALIEN EARTH: The Undersea Volcanoes of Santorini, Greece

Dive alongside Dr. Richard Camilli and his team as they explore the undersea volcanoes off of the coast of...

ARC
NASA image: jsc2023e038725
Image
Jun 28, 2023

jsc2023e038725

jsc2023e038725 (6/28/2023) --- The FBCE-CM-HT Test Module Assembly with main features identified. This investigation...

JSC
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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.

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