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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 "Thermal Protection"

1,837 results found - Page 8 of 77

NASA image: KSC-2011-1404
Image
Feb 8, 2011

KSC-2011-1404

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a thermal...

KSC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - STS-114 Mission Specialists Wendy Lawrence (left) and Stephen Robinson (right) look at the insert for Discovery’s nose cap that is being fitted with thermal protection system insulation blankets. The mission crew is spending time becoming familiar with Shuttle and mission equipment. The mission is Logistics Flight 1, which is scheduled to deliver supplies and equipment plus the external stowage platform to the International Space Station.
Image
Mar 5, 2004

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - STS-114 Mission Specialists Wendy Lawrence (left) and Stephen Robinson (right) look at the insert for Discovery’s nose cap that is being fitted with thermal protection system insulation blankets. The mission crew is spending time becoming familiar with Shuttle and mission equipment. The mission is Logistics Flight 1, which is scheduled to deliver supplies and equipment plus the external stowage platform to the International Space Station.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - STS-114 Mission Specialists Wendy Lawrence (left) and Stephen Robinson (right) look at...

KSC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV hangar, members of the Columbia Reconstruction Team work to identify pieces of Thermal Protection System tile from the left wing of Columbia recovered during the search and recovery efforts in East Texas. The items shipped to KSC number more than 82,000 and weigh 84,800 pounds or 38 percent of the total dry weight of Columbia. Of those items, 78,760 have been identified, with 753 placed on the left wing grid in the Hangar.
Image
May 15, 2003

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV hangar, members of the Columbia Reconstruction Team work to identify pieces of Thermal Protection System tile from the left wing of Columbia recovered during the search and recovery efforts in East Texas. The items shipped to KSC number more than 82,000 and weigh 84,800 pounds or 38 percent of the total dry weight of Columbia. Of those items, 78,760 have been identified, with 753 placed on the left wing grid in the Hangar.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV hangar, members of the Columbia Reconstruction Team work to identify pieces...

KSC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Members of the STS-114 crew spend time becoming familiar with Shuttle and mission equipment. Mission Specialists Soichi Noguchi (left) and Andrew Thomas (center) look at an engine eyelet, which serves as part of the thermal protection system on an orbiter. Noguchi is with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The mission is Logistics Flight 1, which is scheduled to deliver supplies and equipment and the external stowage platform to the International Space Station.
Image
Mar 5, 2004

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Members of the STS-114 crew spend time becoming familiar with Shuttle and mission equipment. Mission Specialists Soichi Noguchi (left) and Andrew Thomas (center) look at an engine eyelet, which serves as part of the thermal protection system on an orbiter. Noguchi is with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The mission is Logistics Flight 1, which is scheduled to deliver supplies and equipment and the external stowage platform to the International Space Station.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Members of the STS-114 crew spend time becoming familiar with Shuttle and mission...

KSC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- United Space Alliance (USA) Vice President and Space Shuttle Program Manager Howard DeCastro (left) and NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Station and Shuttle Programs Michael Kostelnik (third from left) watch as a USA technician (right) creates a tile for use in the Shuttle's Thermal Protection System (TPS). NASA and USA Space Shuttle program management are participating in a leadership workday. The day is intended to provide management with an in-depth, hands-on look at Shuttle processing activities at KSC.
Image
Dec 19, 2003

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- United Space Alliance (USA) Vice President and Space Shuttle Program Manager Howard DeCastro (left) and NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Station and Shuttle Programs Michael Kostelnik (third from left) watch as a USA technician (right) creates a tile for use in the Shuttle's Thermal Protection System (TPS). NASA and USA Space Shuttle program management are participating in a leadership workday. The day is intended to provide management with an in-depth, hands-on look at Shuttle processing activities at KSC.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- United Space Alliance (USA) Vice President and Space Shuttle Program Manager Howard...

KSC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Members of the STS-114 crew spend time in the Orbiter Processing Facility becoming familiar with Shuttle and mission equipment. Mission Specialists Stephen Robinson (left) and Wendy Lawrence (right) look at an engine eyelet, which serves as part of the thermal protection system on an orbiter. The STS-114 mission is Logistics Flight 1, which is scheduled to deliver supplies and equipment and the external stowage platform to the International Space Station.
Image
Mar 5, 2004

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Members of the STS-114 crew spend time in the Orbiter Processing Facility becoming familiar with Shuttle and mission equipment. Mission Specialists Stephen Robinson (left) and Wendy Lawrence (right) look at an engine eyelet, which serves as part of the thermal protection system on an orbiter. The STS-114 mission is Logistics Flight 1, which is scheduled to deliver supplies and equipment and the external stowage platform to the International Space Station.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Members of the STS-114 crew spend time in the Orbiter Processing Facility becoming...

KSC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- From left, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Station and Shuttle Programs Michael Kostelnik and United Space Alliance (USA) Vice President and Space Shuttle Program Manager Howard DeCastro are briefed on the properties of the tile used in the Shuttle's Thermal Protection System (TPS) by USA Manager of the TPS Facility Martin Wilson (right). NASA and USA Space Shuttle program management are participating in a leadership workday. The day is intended to provide management with an in-depth, hands-on look at Shuttle processing activities at KSC.
Image
Dec 19, 2003

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- From left, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Station and Shuttle Programs Michael Kostelnik and United Space Alliance (USA) Vice President and Space Shuttle Program Manager Howard DeCastro are briefed on the properties of the tile used in the Shuttle's Thermal Protection System (TPS) by USA Manager of the TPS Facility Martin Wilson (right). NASA and USA Space Shuttle program management are participating in a leadership workday. The day is intended to provide management with an in-depth, hands-on look at Shuttle processing activities at KSC.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- From left, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Station and Shuttle Programs...

KSC
NASA image: Around Marshall
Image
Mar 1, 1993

Around Marshall

Scientists at Marshall's Materials and Processes Lab are pulling glass fibers from simulated lunar soil. This...

MSFC
NASA image: SKYLAB (SL)-2 - INFLIGHT (DAMAGE/REPAIR)
Image
May 16, 1973

SKYLAB (SL)-2 - INFLIGHT (DAMAGE/REPAIR)

S73-25884 (1973) --- Astronaut Russell Schweickart in Orbital Workshop Simulator (OWS) working out procedure to be...

JSC
NASA image: ARC-2003-ACD03-0238-007
Image
Nov 20, 2003

ARC-2003-ACD03-0238-007

NEXT GENERATION THERMAL PROTECTION MATERIALS TESTING IN INTERACTIVE HEATING FACILITY; IHF-148 Run 002: Rack 002 West...

ARC
NASA image: SRB Processing Facilities Media Event
Image
Mar 1, 2016

SRB Processing Facilities Media Event

Inside the Booster Fabrication Facility (BFF) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Jeff Cook, a thermal...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05pd-0170
Image
Jan 21, 2005

KSC-05pd-0170

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the back transfer aisle of the Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3, Todd Dugan, a...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05pd-0168
Image
Jan 21, 2005

KSC-05pd-0168

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the back transfer aisle of the Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3, Todd Dugan, a...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05pd-0166
Image
Jan 21, 2005

KSC-05pd-0166

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the back transfer aisle of the Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3, Todd Dugan...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05pd-0169
Image
Jan 21, 2005

KSC-05pd-0169

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the back transfer aisle of the Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3, a worker checks...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05pd-0165
Image
Jan 21, 2005

KSC-05pd-0165

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the back transfer aisle of the Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3, workers check an...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05pd-0294
Image
Feb 17, 2005

KSC-05pd-0294

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - An overhead crane in the Space Station Processing Facility moves the Thermal Protection...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05pd-0292
Image
Feb 17, 2005

KSC-05pd-0292

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Technicians at the Space Station Processing Facility prepare the Thermal Protection...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05pd-0164
Image
Jan 21, 2005

KSC-05pd-0164

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the back transfer aisle of the Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3, Todd Dugan, a...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05pd-0167
Image
Jan 21, 2005

KSC-05pd-0167

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the back transfer aisle of the Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3, a worker checks...

KSC
NASA image: Orion Heat Shield Installation
Image
Jul 25, 2018

Orion Heat Shield Installation

Lockheed Martin engineers and technicians are installing the heat shield to the Orion crew module July 25, 2018,...

KSC
NASA image: Piece of thermal insulation tile floats near the Shuttle Columbia
Image
Jan 12, 1986

Piece of thermal insulation tile floats near the Shuttle Columbia

A small piece of thermal insulation tile floats in space near the Shuttle Columbia. The cloudy surface of the earth...

JSC
NASA image: STS-31 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, glides toward EAFB landing
Image
Apr 29, 1990

STS-31 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, glides toward EAFB landing

STS031-S-131 (29 April 1990) --- Low angle view of the Space Shuttle Discovery as it approaches for landing on a...

JSC
NASA image: F-15A #281 in flight
Image
Feb 24, 1978

F-15A #281 in flight

F-15A #281 In Flight

AFRC
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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.

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