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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 "PROTECTION"

7,828 results found - Page 8 of 327

NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC employee Joel Smith prepares an area on the orbiter Discovery for blanket installation. The blankets are part of the Orbiter Thermal Protection System, thermal shields to protect against temperatures as high as 3,000° Fahrenheit, which are produced during descent for landing. Discovery is scheduled to fly on mission STS-121 to the International Space Station.
Image
Dec 9, 2003

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC employee Joel Smith prepares an area on the orbiter Discovery for blanket installation. The blankets are part of the Orbiter Thermal Protection System, thermal shields to protect against temperatures as high as 3,000° Fahrenheit, which are produced during descent for landing. Discovery is scheduled to fly on mission STS-121 to the International Space Station.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC employee Joel Smith prepares an area on the...

KSC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - United Space Alliance employees (from left) Daryl Burke, Jay Beason and Tom Summers check new tiles installed on the heat shield of main engine 1 for the orbiter Discovery. A heat shield is a protective layer on a spacecraft designed to protect it from the high temperatures, usually those that result from aerobraking during reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
Image
Sep 23, 2003

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - United Space Alliance employees (from left) Daryl Burke, Jay Beason and Tom Summers check new tiles installed on the heat shield of main engine 1 for the orbiter Discovery. A heat shield is a protective layer on a spacecraft designed to protect it from the high temperatures, usually those that result from aerobraking during reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - United Space Alliance employees (from left) Daryl Burke, Jay Beason and Tom Summers...

KSC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC employee Duane Williams prepares the blanket insulation to be installed on the body flap on orbiter Discovery. The blankets are part of the Orbiter Thermal Protection System, thermal shields to protect against temperatures as high as 3,000° Fahrenheit, which are produced during descent for landing. Discovery is scheduled to fly on mission STS-121 to the International Space Station.
Image
Dec 9, 2003

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC employee Duane Williams prepares the blanket insulation to be installed on the body flap on orbiter Discovery. The blankets are part of the Orbiter Thermal Protection System, thermal shields to protect against temperatures as high as 3,000° Fahrenheit, which are produced during descent for landing. Discovery is scheduled to fly on mission STS-121 to the International Space Station.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC employee Duane Williams prepares the blanket...

KSC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC employee Duane Williams prepares the blanket insulation to be installed on the body flap on orbiter Discovery. The blankets are part of the Orbiter Thermal Protection System, thermal shields to protect against temperatures as high as 3,000° Fahrenheit, which are produced during descent for landing. Discovery is scheduled to fly on mission STS-121 to the International Space Station.
Image
Dec 9, 2003

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC employee Duane Williams prepares the blanket insulation to be installed on the body flap on orbiter Discovery. The blankets are part of the Orbiter Thermal Protection System, thermal shields to protect against temperatures as high as 3,000° Fahrenheit, which are produced during descent for landing. Discovery is scheduled to fly on mission STS-121 to the International Space Station.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC employee Duane Williams prepares the blanket...

KSC
NASA image: Clad in thermal protection suits, fire/rescue crew aid a volunteer "Injured astronaut" to a head-first ride down the exit slide from the shuttle cabin mockup
Image
May 5, 2007

Clad in thermal protection suits, fire/rescue crew aid a volunteer "Injured astronaut" to a head-first ride down the exit slide from the shuttle cabin mockup

Clad in thermal protection suits, fire/rescue crew aid a volunteer "Injured astronaut" to a head-first ride down the...

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: STS-126 commander Chris Ferguson and pilot Eric Boe examine shuttle Endeavour's thermal protection system following the STS-126 landing at Edwards AFB Nov. 30
Image
Nov 30, 2008

STS-126 commander Chris Ferguson and pilot Eric Boe examine shuttle Endeavour's thermal protection system following the STS-126 landing at Edwards AFB Nov. 30

STS-126 commander Chris Ferguson and pilot Eric Boe examine shuttle Endeavour's thermal protection system following...

AFRC
NASA image: 2023 ‘State of NASA’ Address from Administrator Bill Nelson
Video
Mar 9, 2023

2023 ‘State of NASA’ Address from Administrator Bill Nelson

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson delivers the State of NASA address for 2023. Learn about our plans to explore the...

HQ
NASA image: NASA EPA MOA Signing
Image
Apr 25, 2010

NASA EPA MOA Signing

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, left, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P....

HQ
NASA image: NASA EPA MOA Signing
Image
Apr 25, 2010

NASA EPA MOA Signing

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, left, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P....

HQ
NASA image: Closeup of F-15B Flight Test Fixture (FTF) with X-33 Thermal Protection Systems (TPS)
Image
May 14, 1998

Closeup of F-15B Flight Test Fixture (FTF) with X-33 Thermal Protection Systems (TPS)

A close up of the Flight Test Fixture II, mounted on the underside of the F-15B Aerodynamic Flight Facility...

AFRC
NASA image: MAF_20221026_CS3 IT Move from 55 to Cell G_Jnl-38
Image
Oct 26, 2022

MAF_20221026_CS3 IT Move from 55 to Cell G_Jnl-38

Technicians at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility move the intertank of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket for Artemis...

MAF
NASA image: MAF_20221026_CS3 IT Move from 55 to Cell G_Jnl-24
Image
Oct 25, 2022

MAF_20221026_CS3 IT Move from 55 to Cell G_Jnl-24

Technicians at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility move the intertank of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket for Artemis...

MAF
NASA image: MAF_20221026_CS3 IT Move from 55 to Cell G_Jnl-41
Image
Oct 26, 2022

MAF_20221026_CS3 IT Move from 55 to Cell G_Jnl-41

Technicians at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility move the intertank of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket for Artemis...

MAF
NASA image: MAF_20221026_CS3 IT Move from 55 to Cell G_Jnl-39
Image
Oct 26, 2022

MAF_20221026_CS3 IT Move from 55 to Cell G_Jnl-39

Technicians at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility move the intertank of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket for Artemis...

MAF
NASA image: MAF_20221026_CS3 IT Move from 55 to Cell G_Jnl-36
Image
Oct 26, 2022

MAF_20221026_CS3 IT Move from 55 to Cell G_Jnl-36

Technicians at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility move the intertank of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket for Artemis...

MAF
NASA image: MAF_20221026_CS3 IT Move from 55 to Cell G_Jnl-35
Image
Oct 26, 2022

MAF_20221026_CS3 IT Move from 55 to Cell G_Jnl-35

Technicians at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility move the intertank of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket for Artemis...

MAF
NASA image: SCAPE Suit Up
Image
Oct 31, 2018

SCAPE Suit Up

Operators wearing Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble (SCAPE) suits depart the suit-up room at the...

KSC
NASA image: SCAPE Suit Up
Image
Oct 31, 2018

SCAPE Suit Up

An operator prepares to don a Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble (SCAPE) suit inside a room in the...

KSC
NASA image: SCAPE Suit Up
Image
Oct 31, 2018

SCAPE Suit Up

An operator dons a Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble (SCAPE) suit inside a room in the Multi-Payload...

KSC
NASA image: SCAPE Suit Up
Image
Oct 31, 2018

SCAPE Suit Up

An operator dons a Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble (SCAPE) suit inside a room in the Multi-Payload...

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

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Daily curated space image

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Mission updates & discoveries