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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 "optics research"

201 results found - Page 2 of 9

NASA image: Aerospace Communications Facility (ACF)
Image
Aug 7, 2023

Aerospace Communications Facility (ACF)

NASA’s Glenn Research Center opened the doors to a brand-new mission-focused facility that will support the agency’s...

GRC
NASA image: One Water-Powered NASA Spacecraft Commands Another in Orbit (Unnarrated Animation)
Video
Aug 1, 2019

One Water-Powered NASA Spacecraft Commands Another in Orbit (Unnarrated Animation)

This unnarrated animation depicts NASA’s first coordinated maneuver between two CubeSats in low-Earth orbit as part...

ARC
NASA image: iss064e013876
Image
Dec 18, 2020

iss064e013876

NASA astronaut and Expedition 64 Flight Engineer Victor Glover performs a sample exchange in the Microgravity...

JSC
NASA image: ARC-1988-AC88-0089-9
Image
Feb 1, 1988

ARC-1988-AC88-0089-9

Crew Station Research and Developement Facility (CSRDF) A NASA Army simulator to design and evaluate advanced...

ARC
NASA image: ARC-1988-AC88-0089-2
Image
Feb 1, 1988

ARC-1988-AC88-0089-2

Crew Station Research and Developement Facility (CSRDF) A NASA Army simulator to design and evaluate advanced...

ARC
NASA image: ARC-1988-AC88-0089-5
Image
Feb 1, 1988

ARC-1988-AC88-0089-5

Crew Station Research and Developement Facility (CSRDF) A NASA Army simulator to design and evaluate advanced...

ARC
NASA image: Microgravity
Image
May 26, 1999

Microgravity

Looking for a faster computer? How about an optical computer that processes data streams simultaneously and works...

MSFC
NASA image: Piazza Knows How to Manage the Heat
Image
Mar 17, 2023

Piazza Knows How to Manage the Heat

Anthony piazza, a researcher at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research center in Edwards, California, works with...

AFRC
NASA image: GRC-2022-C-10555
Image
Nov 10, 2022

GRC-2022-C-10555

Dan Raible, an Electronics Engineer in NASA Glenn Research Center’s Optics and Photonics Branch. Raible has a long...

GRC
NASA image: Piazza Knows How to Manage the Heat
Image
Mar 17, 2023

Piazza Knows How to Manage the Heat

Anthony piazza, a researcher at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research center in Edwards, California, works with...

AFRC
NASA image: Aerospace Communications Facility at Night
Image
Aug 28, 2023

Aerospace Communications Facility at Night

The new Aerospace Communications Facility allows researchers to develop various types of communication, including...

GRC
NASA image: NASA Prepares for Mock Truss-Braced Wing Tests
Image
Apr 18, 2024

NASA Prepares for Mock Truss-Braced Wing Tests

An epoxy is applied to adhere the fiber optic sensor installation on the Mock Truss-Braced Wing 10-foot model at...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA DC-8 SARP 2020-21
Image
Dec 8, 2021

NASA DC-8 SARP 2020-21

NASA's DC-8 in flight for the NASA Student Airborne Research Project (SARP) to measure aerosols with the Langley...

AFRC
NASA image: EC91-436-8
Image
Aug 16, 1991

EC91-436-8

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Systems Research Aircraft (SRA), a highly modified F-18 jet...

AFRC
NASA image: ED08-0016-20
Image
Jan 17, 2008

ED08-0016-20

NASA engineer Larry Hudson and Ikhana ground crew member James Smith work on a ground validation test with new fiber...

AFRC
NASA image: Microgravity
Image
Jan 31, 2000

Microgravity

The optical bench for the Fluids Integrated Rack section of the Fluids and Combustion Facility (FCF) is shown...

MSFC
NASA image: Microgravity
Image
Feb 5, 1998

Microgravity

This graph depicts the increased signal quality possible with optical fibers made from ZBLAN, a family of...

MSFC
NASA image: iss064e011648
Image
Dec 10, 2020

iss064e011648

iss064e011648 (Dec. 10, 2020) --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 64 Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins conducts research...

JSC
NASA image: Microgravity
Image
Jan 31, 2000

Microgravity

The optical bench for the Fluids Integrated Rack section of the Fluids and Combustion Facility (FCF) is shown...

MSFC
NASA image: Adam Wroblewski and Shaun McKeehan Working In PC-12 Aircraft
Image
Jun 13, 2024

Adam Wroblewski and Shaun McKeehan Working In PC-12 Aircraft

A team at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland streamed 4K video footage from an aircraft to the International...

GRC
NASA image: Adam Wroblewski in PC-12 Aircraft
Image
Jun 13, 2024

Adam Wroblewski in PC-12 Aircraft

A team at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland streamed 4K video footage from an aircraft to the International...

GRC
NASA image: Pilatus PC-12 Being Prepped For Takeoff
Image
Jun 12, 2024

Pilatus PC-12 Being Prepped For Takeoff

A team at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland streamed 4K video footage from an aircraft to the International...

GRC
NASA image: Adam Wroblewski in PC-12 Aircraft
Image
Jun 13, 2024

Adam Wroblewski in PC-12 Aircraft

Adam Wroblewski p A team at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland streamed 4K video footage from an aircraft to...

GRC
NASA image: Adam Wroblewski, Ground Control
Image
Jun 12, 2024

Adam Wroblewski, Ground Control

A team at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland streamed 4K video footage from an aircraft to the International...

GRC
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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

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Mission updates & discoveries