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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 "optical system"

608 results found - Page 4 of 26

NASA image: OCI Rotating Telescope Optical Inspection
Image
Aug 26, 2021

OCI Rotating Telescope Optical Inspection

Mechanical technician, Andrew Scharmann, installs a shim and inspects an optic on the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI)...

GSFC
NASA image: OCI Optical Inspection
Image
Dec 3, 2020

OCI Optical Inspection

After removal from the handling container physical science technician, Kristen Washington, performs an inspection of...

GSFC
NASA image: OCI Optical Alignment Measurements
Image
Nov 17, 2022

OCI Optical Alignment Measurements

Optical engineer, Maurice Stancil, performs final optical alignment metrology measurements prior to the Ocean Color...

GSFC
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: OCI Main Optics Bench Crane Lift
Image
Jan 19, 2022

OCI Main Optics Bench Crane Lift

Mechanical technician, Andrew Scharmann, slides a lift fixture into position to ensure the Ocean Color Instrument...

GSFC
NASA image: OCI Optical Measurements
Image
May 10, 2022

OCI Optical Measurements

Optical technician, Timothy Madison, uses a theodolite to perform optical measurements on the Ocean Color Instrument...

GSFC
NASA image: Space Science
Image
Apr 1, 1999

Space Science

NASA's Space Optics Manufacturing Center has been working to expand our view of the universe via sophisticated new...

MSFC
NASA image: Space Science
Image
Apr 21, 1999

Space Science

NASA's Space Optics Manufacturing Center has been working to expand our view of the universe via sophisticated new...

MSFC
NASA image: Microgravity
Image
Apr 1, 1999

Microgravity

Jeri Briscoe of the video team inspects the optical system for proper alignment during a test run of the Equiaxed...

MSFC
NASA image: Biotechnology
Image
Jan 22, 2003

Biotechnology

ProVision Technologies, a NASA commercial space center at Sternis Space Center in Mississippi, has developed a new...

MSFC
NASA image: Biotechnology
Image
Jan 22, 2003

Biotechnology

ProVision Technologies, a NASA research partnership center at Sternis Space Center in Mississippi, has developed a...

MSFC
NASA image: Helping CryoFILL Turn Oxygen into Fuel
Image
Jul 6, 2023

Helping CryoFILL Turn Oxygen into Fuel

Patrick Chan, electronics engineer, and NASA Armstrong’s FOSS portfolio project manager, closely examines an optic...

AFRC
NASA image: OCI Optical Lens Installation
Image
Jul 19, 2021

OCI Optical Lens Installation

An Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) optical lens is installed into the flight housing hardware for alignment...

GSFC
NASA image: Cosmonauts Alexey Zubritsky and Sergey Ryzhikov are pictured during a spacewalk
Image
Oct 16, 2025

Cosmonauts Alexey Zubritsky and Sergey Ryzhikov are pictured during a spacewalk

iss073e0981212 (Oct. 16, 2025) --- Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov (left) and Alexey Zubritsky (bottom right)...

JSC
NASA image: Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov during a spacewalk
Image
Oct 16, 2025

Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov during a spacewalk

iss073e0981126 (Oct. 16, 2025) --- Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov is pictured attached to the end effector of...

JSC
NASA image: STS-39 crew activities
Image
Jul 7, 2009

STS-39 crew activities

STS039-20-006 (28 April-6 May 1991) --- Astronaut Michael L. Coats, STS-39 mission commander, works controls of a...

JSC
NASA image: Presentation on Improved Tracking Cameras
Image
Oct 8, 2003

Presentation on Improved Tracking Cameras

In the Image Analysis Facility in the Vehicle Assembly Building, Brad Lawrence (second from left, standing)...

KSC
NASA image: Presentation on Improved Tracking Cameras
Image
Oct 8, 2003

Presentation on Improved Tracking Cameras

Inside the dome building at Playalinda Beach, Bob Fore points to a map of camera sites during a presentation to the...

KSC
NASA image: STS-39 Commander Coats on OV-103's flight deck watches SPAS-II/IBSS deploy
Image
May 6, 1991

STS-39 Commander Coats on OV-103's flight deck watches SPAS-II/IBSS deploy

STS039-11-027 (28 April-6 May 1991) --- Astronaut Michael L. Coats, STS-39 mission commander, is seen in a close-up...

JSC
NASA image: Presentation on Improved Tracking Cameras
Image
Oct 8, 2003

Presentation on Improved Tracking Cameras

In the Image Analysis Facility in the Vehicle Assembly Building, news media representatives are briefed on the...

KSC
NASA image: STS-42 MS/PLC Norman E. Thagard adjusts Rack 10 FES equipment in IML-1 module
Image
Jan 30, 1992

STS-42 MS/PLC Norman E. Thagard adjusts Rack 10 FES equipment in IML-1 module

STS042-05-006 (22-30 Jan 1992) --- Astronaut Norman E. Thagard, payload commander, performs the Fluids Experiment...

JSC
NASA image: NanoRacks Kestrel Eye (KE2M) Satellite Deployment
Image
Oct 24, 2017

NanoRacks Kestrel Eye (KE2M) Satellite Deployment

iss053e130305 (Oct. 24, 2017) --- The Kestrel Eye IIM (KE2M) CubeSat is deployed from the tip of the Dextre attached...

JSC
NASA image: NASA Prepares for Mock Truss-Braced Wing Tests
Image
Apr 1, 2024

NASA Prepares for Mock Truss-Braced Wing Tests

Engineering technician Jeff Howell mounts conventional strain gauges to the Mock Truss-Braced Wing 10-foot model at...

AFRC
NASA image: Optical Communications Transmitter
Image
Nov 10, 1965

Optical Communications Transmitter

S65-42598 (10 Nov. 1965) --- Douglas S. Idlly, Electromagnetic Systems Branch, Instrumentation and Electronic...

JSC
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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

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DSCOVR EPIC daily images

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Mission updates & discoveries