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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 "sofia"

281 results found - Page 11 of 12

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: ED07-0100-23
Image
May 9, 2007

ED07-0100-23

Two NASA F/A-18s flown by NASA Dryden research pilots Jim Smolka and Nils Larson cruise over the Texas landscape...

AFRC
NASA image: AFRC2017-0116-07
Image
Jan 31, 2017

AFRC2017-0116-07

Dr. Eric Becklin spoke to educators about the airborne astronomy that was conducted using SOFIA’s scientific...

AFRC
NASA image: FLITECAM at Work
Image
Jun 27, 2015

FLITECAM at Work

Technicians fill SOFIA’s instrument with liquid nitrogen and helium to keep the detectors cold. The now retired...

AFRC
NASA image: The flight crew of NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory includes (from left), Ulli Lampater Marty Trout, Bill Brockett Andres Reinacher and Frank Batteas.
Image
Jan 14, 2008

The flight crew of NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory includes (from left), Ulli Lampater Marty Trout, Bill Brockett Andres Reinacher and Frank Batteas.

The flight crew of NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory and DLR telescope engineers who operated the system during its...

AFRC
NASA image: Erik Lindbergh unveils a plaque commemorating his grandfather to dedicate the 747 Clipper Lindbergh, a NASA airborne infrared observatory known as SOFIA
Image
May 21, 2007

Erik Lindbergh unveils a plaque commemorating his grandfather to dedicate the 747 Clipper Lindbergh, a NASA airborne infrared observatory known as SOFIA

Erik Lindbergh, grandson of aviator Charles Lindbergh, unveiled a plaque commemorating his grandfather on the 80th...

AFRC
NASA image: Erik Lindbergh unveils a plaque commemorating his grandfather to dedicate the 747 Clipper Lindbergh, a NASA airborne infrared observatory known as SOFIA
Image
May 21, 2007

Erik Lindbergh unveils a plaque commemorating his grandfather to dedicate the 747 Clipper Lindbergh, a NASA airborne infrared observatory known as SOFIA

Erik Lindbergh, grandson of aviator Charles Lindbergh, unveiled a plaque commemorating his grandfather on the 80th...

AFRC
NASA image: Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Celebration
Image
Jul 18, 2019

Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Celebration

Visitors learn about the SOFIA telescope at the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary celebration on the National Mall,...

HQ
NASA image: Members of the SOFIA infrared observatory support team gather around Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin (in red shirt) during Aldrin's tour of NASA Dryden
Image
Aug 25, 2007

Members of the SOFIA infrared observatory support team gather around Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin (in red shirt) during Aldrin's tour of NASA Dryden

Members of the SOFIA infrared observatory support team gather around Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin (in red shirt)...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's newly painted Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy 747SP is pushed back from L-3 Communications' Integrated Systems hangar in Waco, Texas
Image
Sep 25, 2006

NASA's newly painted Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy 747SP is pushed back from L-3 Communications' Integrated Systems hangar in Waco, Texas

NASA's freshly painted Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) 747SP aircraft sits outside a hangar...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy 747SP shows off its new blue-and-white livery at L-3 Communications' Integrated Systems in Waco, Texas
Image
Sep 25, 2006

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy 747SP shows off its new blue-and-white livery at L-3 Communications' Integrated Systems in Waco, Texas

NASA's freshly painted Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) 747SP is shown at L-3 Communications...

AFRC
NASA image: AFRC-2019-13131-1-ArmstrongHighlightVideo-12-2019
Video
Dec 1, 2019

AFRC-2019-13131-1-ArmstrongHighlightVideo-12-2019

2019 was an exciting, successful year at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. From...

AFRC
NASA image: 2012 Women @ NASA; Dr. Pamela Marcum
Image
Feb 13, 2012

2012 Women @ NASA; Dr. Pamela Marcum

2012 Women @ NASA; Dr. Pamela Marcum

ARC
NASA image: Erik Lindbergh christens NASA's 747 Clipper Lindbergh with a special commemorative concoction representing local, NASA, and industry partners
Image
May 21, 2007

Erik Lindbergh christens NASA's 747 Clipper Lindbergh with a special commemorative concoction representing local, NASA, and industry partners

Erik Lindbergh christens NASA's 747 Clipper Lindbergh, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, with a...

AFRC
NASA image: The Cigar Galaxy's Magnetic Field
Image
Mar 5, 2019

The Cigar Galaxy's Magnetic Field

A composite image of the Cigar Galaxy (also called M82), a starburst galaxy about 12 million light-years away in the...

JPL
NASA image: Earth Observations taken by the Expedition 39 Crew
Image
Mar 19, 2014

Earth Observations taken by the Expedition 39 Crew

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 39 crew aboard the ISS. Image downlinked in folder: Sofia, Bulgaria and...

JSC
NASA image: Earth Observations taken by the Expedition 39 Crew
Image
Mar 19, 2014

Earth Observations taken by the Expedition 39 Crew

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 39 crew aboard the ISS. Image downlinked in folder: Sofia, Bulgaria and...

JSC
NASA image: NASA Dryden's two T-38A mission support aircraft fly in tight formation while conducting a pitot-static airspeed calibration check near Edwards Air Force Base
Image
Sep 26, 2007

NASA Dryden's two T-38A mission support aircraft fly in tight formation while conducting a pitot-static airspeed calibration check near Edwards Air Force Base

NASA Dryden Flight Research Center's two T-38A Talon mission support aircraft flew together for the first time on...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA Dryden's two T-38A mission support aircraft fly in tight formation while conducting a pitot-static airspeed calibration check near Edwards Air Force Base
Image
Sep 26, 2007

NASA Dryden's two T-38A mission support aircraft fly in tight formation while conducting a pitot-static airspeed calibration check near Edwards Air Force Base

NASA Dryden Flight Research Center's two T-38A Talon mission support aircraft flew together for the first time on...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA Dryden's two T-38A mission support aircraft fly in tight formation while conducting a pitot-static airspeed calibration check near Edwards Air Force Base
Image
Sep 26, 2007

NASA Dryden's two T-38A mission support aircraft fly in tight formation while conducting a pitot-static airspeed calibration check near Edwards Air Force Base

NASA Dryden Flight Research Center's two T-38A Talon mission support aircraft flew together for the first time on...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA Dryden's two T-38A mission support aircraft fly in tight formation while conducting a pitot-static airspeed calibration check near Edwards Air Force Base
Image
Sep 26, 2007

NASA Dryden's two T-38A mission support aircraft fly in tight formation while conducting a pitot-static airspeed calibration check near Edwards Air Force Base

NASA Dryden Flight Research Center's two T-38A Talon mission support aircraft flew together for the first time on...

AFRC
NASA image: ED11-0173-076
Image
May 18, 2011

ED11-0173-076

The NASA logo on Bldg. 703 at Armstrong Flight Research Center in Palmdale, Calif., is reflected in the telescope's...

AFRC
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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

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