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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 "Back Shells"

130 results found - Page 3 of 6

NASA image: KSC-2014-3482
Image
Aug 5, 2014

KSC-2014-3482

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2014-3476
Image
Aug 4, 2014

KSC-2014-3476

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in...

KSC
NASA image: Protecting NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover
Image
May 7, 2020

Protecting NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover

The cone-shaped back shell for NASA's Perseverance rover mission sits on a support structure in this April 29, 2020,...

JPL
NASA image: Phoenix Without its Parachute
Image
May 22, 2008

Phoenix Without its Parachute

NASA Phoenix Mars Lander will be in free fall after it separates from its back shell and parachute, but not for long.

JPL
NASA image: Taking Mars 2020 Integration Head-on
Image
Apr 11, 2019

Taking Mars 2020 Integration Head-on

A member of NASA's Mars 2020 project checks connections between the spacecraft's back shell and cruise stage. The...

JPL
NASA image: One Last Earthly Look
Image
Jun 17, 2020

One Last Earthly Look

The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission's disk-shaped cruise stage sits atop the bell-shaped back shell, which...

JPL
NASA image: Perseverance from Below
Image
May 7, 2020

Perseverance from Below

NASA's Mars Perseverance rover's descent stage was recently stacked atop the rover at Kennedy Space Center, and the...

JPL
NASA image: Before and After Curiosity Touchdown
Image
Aug 8, 2012

Before and After Curiosity Touchdown

This image from an animation is from NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter MRO showing the landing effects of the descent...

JPL
NASA image: Evidence of a Job Well Done
Image
Aug 7, 2012

Evidence of a Job Well Done

This close-up view shows the rover Curiosity parachute and back shell strewn across the surface of Mars. The image...

JPL
NASA image: Relics of Rover Landing
Image
Sep 6, 2012

Relics of Rover Landing

This color view of the parachute and back shell that helped deliver NASA Curiosity rover to the surface of the Red...

JPL
NASA image: MEDLI2 Onboard Mars 2020 Spacecraft
Image
Oct 22, 2020

MEDLI2 Onboard Mars 2020 Spacecraft

MEDLI2 sensors are installed on the Mars 2020 heat shield and back shell prior to launch. The sensors will measure...

JPL
NASA image: Mars 2020's Aeroshell
Image
Jan 21, 2020

Mars 2020's Aeroshell

The heat shield (left) and back shell (right) that comprise the aeroshell for NASA's Mars 2020 mission are depicted...

JPL
NASA image: Artemis II Backshell Panels
Image
Dec 15, 2024

Artemis II Backshell Panels

Back shell panels are visible on the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission inside the Neil A. Armstrong...

KSC
NASA image: Artemis IV Orion Backshell Panels
Image
Dec 15, 2024

Artemis IV Orion Backshell Panels

Back shell panels are visible on the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis IV mission inside the Neil A. Armstrong...

KSC
NASA image: Artemis II Backshell Panels
Image
Dec 15, 2024

Artemis II Backshell Panels

Visible in the foreground are back shell panels on the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission inside the Neil...

KSC
NASA image: Illustration of InSight Cruise Stage Separation
Image
Oct 23, 2018

Illustration of InSight Cruise Stage Separation

This illustration shows NASA's InSight lander separating from its cruise stage as it prepares to enter Mars'...

JPL
NASA image: InSight Aeroshell Coming Together
Image
Aug 18, 2015

InSight Aeroshell Coming Together

The heat shield is suspended above the rest of the InSight spacecraft in this image taken July 13, 2015, in a...

JPL
NASA image: KSC-2011-3503
Image
May 12, 2011

KSC-2011-3503

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Workers unload a container holding the back shell, one of the first three elements for...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2011-3504
Image
May 12, 2011

KSC-2011-3504

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Workers unload a container holding the back shell, one of the first three elements for...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2011-3506
Image
May 12, 2011

KSC-2011-3506

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Workers load onto a transporter a container holding the back shell, one of the first three...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2011-3505
Image
May 12, 2011

KSC-2011-3505

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Workers load onto a transporter a container holding the back shell, one of the first three...

KSC
NASA image: Mars 2020 Heat Shield & Backshell Unboxing
Image
Dec 13, 2019

Mars 2020 Heat Shield & Backshell Unboxing

The heat shield and back shell for the Mars 2020 rover are unboxed inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility...

KSC
NASA image: Mars 2020 Heat Shield & Backshell Unboxing
Image
Dec 13, 2019

Mars 2020 Heat Shield & Backshell Unboxing

The heat shield and back shell for the Mars 2020 rover are unboxed inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility...

KSC
NASA image: Mars 2020 Heat Shield & Backshell Unboxing
Image
Dec 13, 2019

Mars 2020 Heat Shield & Backshell Unboxing

The heat shield and back shell for the Mars 2020 rover are unboxed inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility...

KSC
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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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