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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 "Polar-Orbiting"

1,970 results found - Page 10 of 83

NASA image: KSC-97pc1040
Image
Jul 13, 1997

KSC-97pc1040

Workers erect the first stage of a Lockheed Martin Launch Vehicle-2 (LMLV-2) at Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral...

KSC
NASA image: Volunteers Help Decide Where to Point Mars Camera
Image
Jul 22, 2015

Volunteers Help Decide Where to Point Mars Camera

This series of images from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter successively zooms into "spider" features -- or...

JPL
NASA image: Earth Observations
Image
Jun 16, 2010

Earth Observations

ISS024-E-006136 (16 June 2010) --- Polar mesospheric clouds, illuminated by an orbital sunrise, are featured in this...

JSC
NASA image: North Polar Layers
Image
May 24, 2018

North Polar Layers

This VIS image shows the margin between the polar cap and the surrounding plains. There are dunes on the plains at...

JPL
NASA image: VANDENBERG AFB, CALIF. - Logos identify the mission of this Delta II rocket that will launch the Gravity Probe B experiment, developed by Stanford University, Lockheed Martin and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The Gravity Probe B will launch a payload of four gyroscopes into low-Earth polar orbit to test two extraordinary predictions of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity: the geodetic effect (how space and time are warped by the presence of the Earth) and frame dragging (how Earth’s rotation drags space and time around with it). Once in orbit, for 18 months each gyroscope’s spin axis will be monitored as it travels through local spacetime, observing and measuring these effects. The targeted launch date is Dec. 6, 2003.
Image
Sep 12, 2003

VANDENBERG AFB, CALIF. - Logos identify the mission of this Delta II rocket that will launch the Gravity Probe B experiment, developed by Stanford University, Lockheed Martin and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The Gravity Probe B will launch a payload of four gyroscopes into low-Earth polar orbit to test two extraordinary predictions of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity: the geodetic effect (how space and time are warped by the presence of the Earth) and frame dragging (how Earth’s rotation drags space and time around with it). Once in orbit, for 18 months each gyroscope’s spin axis will be monitored as it travels through local spacetime, observing and measuring these effects. The targeted launch date is Dec. 6, 2003.

NASA image: VANDENBERG AFB, CALIF. - Logos identify the mission of this Delta II rocket that will launch the Gravity Probe B experiment, developed by Stanford University, Lockheed Martin and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The Gravity Probe B will launch a payload of four gyroscopes into low-Earth polar orbit to test two extraordinary predictions of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity: the geodetic effect (how space and time are warped by the presence of the Earth) and frame dragging (how Earth’s rotation drags space and time around with it). Once in orbit, for 18 months each gyroscope’s spin axis will be monitored as it travels through local spacetime, observing and measuring these effects. The targeted launch date is Dec. 6, 2003.
Image
Sep 12, 2003

VANDENBERG AFB, CALIF. - Logos identify the mission of this Delta II rocket that will launch the Gravity Probe B experiment, developed by Stanford University, Lockheed Martin and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The Gravity Probe B will launch a payload of four gyroscopes into low-Earth polar orbit to test two extraordinary predictions of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity: the geodetic effect (how space and time are warped by the presence of the Earth) and frame dragging (how Earth’s rotation drags space and time around with it). Once in orbit, for 18 months each gyroscope’s spin axis will be monitored as it travels through local spacetime, observing and measuring these effects. The targeted launch date is Dec. 6, 2003.

NASA image: Mars South Polar Cap "Fingerprint" Terrain
Image
Apr 24, 2000

Mars South Polar Cap "Fingerprint" Terrain

This picture is illuminated by sunlight from the upper left. Some portions of the martian south polar residual cap...

JPL
NASA image: Polar Layers
Image
Mar 21, 2019

Polar Layers

This VIS image shows layering in the south polar cap. Orbit Number: 75417 Latitude: -86.5045 Longitude: 160.818...

JPL
NASA image: KSC-09-S-00003
Video
Feb 2, 2009

KSC-09-S-00003

Delta II stands ready to launch the NOAA-N Prime spacecraft from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. This new...

KSC
NASA image: Cloudy Day
Image
Dec 17, 2018

Cloudy Day

This VIS image shows a layer of clouds over the South polar cap. Orbit Number: 75301 Latitude: -84.8947 Longitude:...

JPL
NASA image: More Polar Textures
Image
Jun 12, 2017

More Polar Textures

This VIS image shows more of the variety of textures on the south polar cap. Orbit Number: 68068 Latitude: -86.1964...

JPL
NASA image: Dust and Frost
Image
Jun 11, 2018

Dust and Frost

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) observed sand dunes in the north polar regions of Mars showing light...

JPL
NASA image: JPSS-2 Atlas V Fairing Transport from B7525 to Astrotech
Image
Aug 10, 2022

JPSS-2 Atlas V Fairing Transport from B7525 to Astrotech

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V payload fairing transits from Building 7525 to the Astrotech Processing...

KSC
NASA image: JPSS-2 Atlas V Fairing Transport from B7525 to Astrotech
Image
Aug 10, 2022

JPSS-2 Atlas V Fairing Transport from B7525 to Astrotech

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V payload fairing is transported from Building 7525 to the Astrotech...

KSC
NASA image: JPSS-2 Atlas V Fairing Transport from B7525 to Astrotech
Image
Aug 10, 2022

JPSS-2 Atlas V Fairing Transport from B7525 to Astrotech

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V payload fairing arrives at the Astrotech Processing Facility at Vandenberg...

KSC
NASA image: JPSS-2 Atlas V Fairing Transport from B7525 to Astrotech
Image
Aug 10, 2022

JPSS-2 Atlas V Fairing Transport from B7525 to Astrotech

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V payload fairing is moved inside the Astrotech Processing Facility at...

KSC
NASA image: JPSS-2 Atlas V Fairing Transport from B7525 to Astrotech
Image
Aug 10, 2022

JPSS-2 Atlas V Fairing Transport from B7525 to Astrotech

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V payload fairing is moved inside the Astrotech Processing Facility at...

KSC
NASA image: JPSS-2 Atlas V Fairing Transport from B7525 to Astrotech
Image
Aug 10, 2022

JPSS-2 Atlas V Fairing Transport from B7525 to Astrotech

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V payload fairing is transported from Building 7525 to the Astrotech...

KSC
NASA image: South Polar Ice
Image
Mar 20, 2023

South Polar Ice

Today's VIS image shows part of the south polar cap. This image was taken at the end of southern summer. The cap was...

JPL
NASA image: Rocket Lab PREFIRE and Ice Launch
Image
Jun 5, 2024

Rocket Lab PREFIRE and Ice Launch

Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket called “PREFIRE and Ice,” is vertical on the pad awaiting liftoff at Launch Complex 1...

KSC
NASA image: South Polar Ice
Image
Mar 3, 2023

South Polar Ice

Today's VIS image shows part of the south polar cap. This image was taken near the end of southern summer. The cap...

JPL
NASA image: South Polar Layers
Image
Aug 25, 2016

South Polar Layers

Southern hemisphere spring has arrived at the south polar cap. The ice layers that make up the cap are easily seen...

JPL
NASA image: Olympia Rupes
Image
Nov 18, 2015

Olympia Rupes

The steep feature in this image from NASA 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft is the margin of the north polar cap, called...

JPL
NASA image: South Polar Layers
Image
Jun 14, 2019

South Polar Layers

This VIS image shows part of the south polar cap. The numerous layers that comprise the polar cap are readily...

JPL
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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

VANDENBERG AFB, CALIF. - Logos identify the mission of this Delta II rocket that will launch the Gravity Probe B...

KSC

VANDENBERG AFB, CALIF. - Logos identify the mission of this Delta II rocket that will launch the Gravity Probe B...

KSC