CosmosObservatory
Explore
Solar System
Live
Learn
Tools
About
Cosmos Observatory
ToolsAbout
Cosmos Observatory

Explore the universe through NASA data, real-time ISS tracking, Mars rover imagery, asteroid monitoring, and comprehensive space encyclopedia. Your gateway to the cosmos.

Explore

  • APOD
  • Mars Rovers
  • Earth Imagery
  • NASA Gallery
  • ISS Tracker

Data

  • Asteroids
  • Solar System
  • Exoplanets
  • Space Weather
  • Launches

Tools

  • Glossary
  • News
  • Calculators

Legal

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Space Tools
  • Contact

Stay updated with the cosmos

Get weekly digests of APOD highlights, upcoming launches, and space events.

© 2026 Cosmos Observatory. All rights reserved. Built with for space enthusiasts.

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.

  1. Home
  2. /
  3. NASA Gallery

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 "primary mirror assembly"

46 results found - Page 1 of 2

NASA image: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Primary Mirror Fully Assembled
Image
Dec 8, 2017

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Primary Mirror Fully Assembled

The 18th and final primary mirror segment is installed on what will be the biggest and most powerful space telescope...

GSFC
NASA image: A technician guides SOFIA's primary mirror assembly into the aircraft's telescope cavity completing the mirror reinstallation following its initial coating
Image
Oct 8, 2008

A technician guides SOFIA's primary mirror assembly into the aircraft's telescope cavity completing the mirror reinstallation following its initial coating

A technician guides SOFIA's primary mirror assembly into the aircraft's telescope cavity completing the mirror...

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA's primary mirror assembly rests in its transportation cradle prior to reinstallation in NASA's airborne laboratory on Oct. 8, 2008
Image
Oct 8, 2008

SOFIA's primary mirror assembly rests in its transportation cradle prior to reinstallation in NASA's airborne laboratory on Oct. 8, 2008

SOFIA's primary mirror assembly rests in its transportation cradle prior to reinstallation in NASA's airborne...

AFRC
NASA image: Engineers and technicians prepare SOFIA's German-built primary mirror assembly for reinstallation into NASA's 747SP airborne observatory
Image
Oct 8, 2008

Engineers and technicians prepare SOFIA's German-built primary mirror assembly for reinstallation into NASA's 747SP airborne observatory

Engineers and technicians prepare SOFIA's German-built primary mirror assembly for reinstallation into NASA's 747SP...

AFRC
NASA image: echnicians lift SOFIA's primary mirror assembly above NASA's 747SP airborne astronomy aircraft just prior to installation in the telescope cavity
Image
Oct 8, 2008

echnicians lift SOFIA's primary mirror assembly above NASA's 747SP airborne astronomy aircraft just prior to installation in the telescope cavity

echnicians lift SOFIA's primary mirror assembly above NASA's 747SP airborne astronomy aircraft just prior to...

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA's primary mirror assembly is lifted above wing level prior to its reinstallation in the telescope cavity of NASA's 747 airborne observatory Oct. 8, 2008
Image
Oct 8, 2008

SOFIA's primary mirror assembly is lifted above wing level prior to its reinstallation in the telescope cavity of NASA's 747 airborne observatory Oct. 8, 2008

SOFIA's primary mirror assembly is lifted above wing level prior to its reinstallation in the telescope cavity of...

AFRC
NASA image: Technicians position the transport cradle as a crane lowers SOFIA's primary mirror assembly into place prior to finish coating of the mirror at NASA Ames
Image
Apr 18, 2008

Technicians position the transport cradle as a crane lowers SOFIA's primary mirror assembly into place prior to finish coating of the mirror at NASA Ames

Technicians at the NASA Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., removed the German-built primary...

AFRC
NASA image: A NASA Technician directs loading of the crated SOFIA primary mirror assembly into a C-17 for shipment to NASA Ames Research Center for finish coating
Image
May 1, 2008

A NASA Technician directs loading of the crated SOFIA primary mirror assembly into a C-17 for shipment to NASA Ames Research Center for finish coating

Technicians at NASA's Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., loaded the German-built primary...

AFRC
NASA image: Ground crewmen prepare to load the crated SOFIA primary mirror assembly into an Air Force C-17 for shipment to NASA Ames Research Center for finish coating
Image
May 1, 2008

Ground crewmen prepare to load the crated SOFIA primary mirror assembly into an Air Force C-17 for shipment to NASA Ames Research Center for finish coating

Technicians at NASA's Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., loaded the German-built primary...

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA's primary mirror assembly is cradled on its dolly as technicians prepare to move it into a "clean room" at NASA Dryden's Aircraft Operations Facility
Image
Apr 18, 2008

SOFIA's primary mirror assembly is cradled on its dolly as technicians prepare to move it into a "clean room" at NASA Dryden's Aircraft Operations Facility

Technicians at the NASA Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., removed the German-built primary...

AFRC
NASA image: Technicians with ropes carefully guide the primary mirror assembly as a crane slowly moves it toward its transport cradle after removal from the SOFIA aircraft
Image
Apr 18, 2008

Technicians with ropes carefully guide the primary mirror assembly as a crane slowly moves it toward its transport cradle after removal from the SOFIA aircraft

Technicians at the NASA Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., removed the German-built primary...

AFRC
NASA image: Technicians carefully guide SOFIA's primary mirror assembly on its transport cradle into a clean room where it is being prepared for shipment to NASA Ames
Image
Apr 18, 2008

Technicians carefully guide SOFIA's primary mirror assembly on its transport cradle into a clean room where it is being prepared for shipment to NASA Ames

Technicians at the NASA Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., removed the German-built primary...

AFRC
NASA image: The SOFIA primary mirror assembly is cautiously lifted from its cavity in the modified 747 by a crane in preparation for finish coating operations at NASA Ames
Image
Apr 18, 2008

The SOFIA primary mirror assembly is cautiously lifted from its cavity in the modified 747 by a crane in preparation for finish coating operations at NASA Ames

Technicians at the NASA Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., removed the German-built primary...

AFRC
NASA image: Ground crewmen shove the more than two-ton SOFIA primary mirror assembly in its transport crate into a C-17's cavernous cargo bay for shipment to NASA Ames
Image
May 1, 2008

Ground crewmen shove the more than two-ton SOFIA primary mirror assembly in its transport crate into a C-17's cavernous cargo bay for shipment to NASA Ames

Technicians at NASA's Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., loaded the German-built primary...

AFRC
NASA image: Technicians guide removal of the upper rigid door assembly that covers the telescope cavity on NASA's SOFIA 747SP in preparation for primary mirror removal
Image
Feb 20, 2008

Technicians guide removal of the upper rigid door assembly that covers the telescope cavity on NASA's SOFIA 747SP in preparation for primary mirror removal

Technicians guide removal of the upper rigid door assembly that covers the telescope cavity on NASA's SOFIA 747SP in...

AFRC
NASA image: 1000556
Image
Mar 15, 2008

1000556

A PRIMARY MIRROR SEGMENT ASSEMBLY BEING CAREFULLY LOWERED TO ITS TEST STAND POSITION ALONGSIDE PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED...

MSFC
NASA image: 1000557
Image
Mar 15, 2008

1000557

SHIPPING CONTAINER LID BEING REMOVED TO REVEAL A SINGLE JWST PRIMARY MIRROR SEGMENT ASSEMBLY

MSFC
NASA image: By the Dozen: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Mirrors
Image
Jan 3, 2016

By the Dozen: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Mirrors

A view of the one dozen (out of 18) flight mirror segments that make up the primary mirror on NASA's James Webb...

GSFC
NASA image: By the Dozen: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Mirrors
Image
Jan 3, 2016

By the Dozen: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Mirrors

Caption: One dozen (out of 18) flight mirror segments that make up the primary mirror on NASA's James Webb Space...

GSFC
NASA image: 1000505
Image
Feb 15, 2008

1000505

ERNIE WRIGHT, TEST DIRECTOR, MONITORS MOVE OF TEST STAND WITH SIX JWST (JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE) PRIMARY MIRROR...

MSFC
NASA image: Webb Telescope Mirrors Arrive at NASA Goddard
Image
Dec 8, 2017

Webb Telescope Mirrors Arrive at NASA Goddard

NASA image release April 13, 2011 An engineer examines the Webb telescope primary mirror Engineering Design Unit...

GSFC
NASA image: By the Dozen: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Mirrors
Image
Dec 8, 2017

By the Dozen: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Mirrors

Caption: One dozen (out of 18) flight mirror segments that make up the primary mirror on NASA's James Webb Space...

GSFC
NASA image: By the Dozen: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Mirrors
Image
Dec 8, 2017

By the Dozen: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Mirrors

A view of the one dozen (out of 18) flight mirror segments that make up the primary mirror on NASA's James Webb...

GSFC
NASA image: History of Hubble Space Telescope (HST)
Image
Jan 1, 1986

History of Hubble Space Telescope (HST)

This image illustrates the Hubble Space Telescope's (HST's) Optical Telescope Assembly (OTA). One of the three major...

MSFC
PreviousPage 1 of 2Next

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