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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 "lifting bodies"

228 results found - Page 2 of 10

NASA image: EC69-2247
Image
Aug 6, 1969

EC69-2247

John Manke is shown here on the lakebed next to the HL-10, one of four different lifting-body vehicles he flew,...

AFRC
NASA image: M2-F3 cockpit instrument panel
Image
May 6, 1970

M2-F3 cockpit instrument panel

This photo shows the cockpit instrument panel of the M2-F3 Lifting Body.

AFRC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers in the Orbiter Processing Facility get ready to lift and install the rear body flap on orbiter Discovery. The body flap, which is temporarily under protective covering, attaches below the main engines.
Image
Sep 23, 2003

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers in the Orbiter Processing Facility get ready to lift and install the rear body flap on orbiter Discovery. The body flap, which is temporarily under protective covering, attaches below the main engines.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers in the Orbiter Processing Facility get ready to lift and install the rear body...

KSC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers in the Orbiter Processing Facility get ready to lift and install the rear body flap on orbiter Discovery. The body flap, which is temporarily under protective covering, attaches below the main engines.
Image
Sep 23, 2003

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers in the Orbiter Processing Facility get ready to lift and install the rear body flap on orbiter Discovery. The body flap, which is temporarily under protective covering, attaches below the main engines.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers in the Orbiter Processing Facility get ready to lift and install the rear body...

KSC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers in the Orbiter Processing Facility get ready to lift and install the rear body flap on orbiter Discovery. The body flap, which is temporarily under protective covering, attaches below the main engines.
Image
Sep 23, 2003

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers in the Orbiter Processing Facility get ready to lift and install the rear body flap on orbiter Discovery. The body flap, which is temporarily under protective covering, attaches below the main engines.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers in the Orbiter Processing Facility get ready to lift and install the rear body...

KSC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, the rear body flap is lifted into place on the orbiter Discovery. The body flap, which is temporarily under protective covering, attaches below the main engines.
Image
Sep 23, 2003

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, the rear body flap is lifted into place on the orbiter Discovery. The body flap, which is temporarily under protective covering, attaches below the main engines.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, the rear body flap is lifted into place on the...

KSC
NASA image: E-21539
Image
Jun 18, 1970

E-21539

The four principal HL-10 pilots are seen here with the lifting body aircraft. They are, left to right; Air Force...

AFRC
NASA image: John Manke Aboard the HL-10
Image
May 16, 1968

John Manke Aboard the HL-10

Armstrong research pilot (and future center director) John Manke emerges from the HL-10, NASA Langley’s 10th...

AFRC
NASA image: Jay L. King, Joseph D. Huxman, and Orion D. Billeter Assist Pilot Milt Thompson into the M2-F2 Attached to B-52 Mothership
Image
Feb 28, 1966

Jay L. King, Joseph D. Huxman, and Orion D. Billeter Assist Pilot Milt Thompson into the M2-F2 Attached to B-52 Mothership

NASA research pilot Milt Thompson is helped into the cockpit of the M2-F2 lifting body research aircraft at NASA’s...

AFRC
NASA image: ECN-2409
Image
Jun 17, 1970

ECN-2409

Not every moment of a test pilot's day is serious business. In a moment of levity, NASA pilots Bill Dana (left) and...

AFRC
NASA image: E-16207
Image
Dec 22, 1966

E-16207

The HL-10 Lifting Body completes its first research flight with a landing on Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards AFB,...

AFRC
NASA image: E-14969
Image
May 27, 1966

E-14969

The HL-10, seen here parked on the ramp, was one of five lifting body designs flown at NASA's Dryden Flight Research...

AFRC
NASA image: E-18900
Image
Jun 4, 1968

E-18900

As shown in this photo of the HL-10 flight simulator, the lifting-body pilots and engineers made use of early...

AFRC
NASA image: X-38 on B-52 Wing Pylon - View from Observation Window
Image
Nov 19, 1997

X-38 on B-52 Wing Pylon - View from Observation Window

A unique, close-up view of the X-38 under the wing of NASA's B-52 mothership prior to launch of the lifting-body...

AFRC
NASA image: ECN-2304
Image
Sep 10, 1969

ECN-2304

The Hyper III was a full-scale lifting-body remotely piloted research vehicle (RPRV) built at what was then the NASA...

AFRC
NASA image: E76-30317
Image
May 25, 1976

E76-30317

Aero Spacelines B377SGT Super Guppy on Ramp Loading the X-24B and HL-10 Lifting Bodies for Transportation to the Air...

AFRC
NASA image: E-20168
Image
Apr 25, 1969

E-20168

NASA research pilot Bill Dana stands in front of the HL-10 Lifting Body following his first glide flight on April...

AFRC
NASA image: Dale Reed with model in front of M2-F1
Image
Mar 6, 1967

Dale Reed with model in front of M2-F1

Dale Reed with a model of the M2-F1 in front of the actual lifting body. Reed used the model to show the potential...

AFRC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, workers look down from spaces allotted for the main engines as the rear body flap is lifted for installation on the orbiter Discovery. The body flap, which is temporarily under protective covering, attaches below the main engines.
Image
Sep 23, 2003

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, workers look down from spaces allotted for the main engines as the rear body flap is lifted for installation on the orbiter Discovery. The body flap, which is temporarily under protective covering, attaches below the main engines.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, workers look down from spaces allotted for the main...

KSC
NASA image: M2-F1 in flight
Image
Aug 28, 1964

M2-F1 in flight

The M2-F1 Lifting Body is seen here under tow by an unseen C-47 at the NASA Flight Research Center (later...

AFRC
NASA image: ECN-2064
Image
Jun 12, 1968

ECN-2064

The HL-10 Lifting Body is seen here parked on Rogers Dry Lake, the unique location where it landed after research...

AFRC
NASA image: M2-F3 with test pilot John A. Manke
Image
Dec 20, 1972

M2-F3 with test pilot John A. Manke

NASA research pilot John A. Manke is seen here in front of the M2-F3 Lifting Body. Manke was hired by NASA on May...

AFRC
NASA image: E-21093
Image
Dec 18, 1969

E-21093

The wingless, lifting body aircraft sitting on Rogers Dry Lake at what is now NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center,...

AFRC
NASA image: EC69-2358
Image
Dec 18, 1969

EC69-2358

The wingless, lifting body aircraft sitting on Rogers Dry Lake at what is now NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center,...

AFRC
PreviousPage 2 of 10Next

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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