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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 "sofia"

281 results found - Page 8 of 12

NASA image: Engineers and technicians prepare SOFIA's German-built primary mirror assembly for reinstallation into NASA's 747SP airborne observatory
Image
Oct 8, 2008

Engineers and technicians prepare SOFIA's German-built primary mirror assembly for reinstallation into NASA's 747SP airborne observatory

Engineers and technicians prepare SOFIA's German-built primary mirror assembly for reinstallation into NASA's 747SP...

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA Observations Explained
Image
Jun 12, 2013

SOFIA Observations Explained

Dana Backamn explains SOFIA’s observations during a flight with Airborne Astronomy Ambassador educators Adriana...

AFRC
NASA image: ARC-2010-ACD10-0242-001
Image
Dec 17, 2010

ARC-2010-ACD10-0242-001

German Deligation visits Ames SOFIA Science Office for briefing and enjoy a Ames tour of CVSRF Simulator and 'fly'...

ARC
NASA image: Active Galactic Nucleus
Image
Sep 14, 2017

Active Galactic Nucleus

SCI2017_0007: Artist illustration of the thick ring of dust that can obscure the energetic processes that occur near...

ARC
NASA image: The flight crew of NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory includes (from left), flight engineer Marty Trout and pilots Bill Brockett and Frank Batteas.
Image
Jan 14, 2008

The flight crew of NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory includes (from left), flight engineer Marty Trout and pilots Bill Brockett and Frank Batteas.

The flight crew of NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory includes (from left), flight engineer Marty Trout and pilots...

AFRC
NASA image: echnicians lift SOFIA's primary mirror assembly above NASA's 747SP airborne astronomy aircraft just prior to installation in the telescope cavity
Image
Oct 8, 2008

echnicians lift SOFIA's primary mirror assembly above NASA's 747SP airborne astronomy aircraft just prior to installation in the telescope cavity

echnicians lift SOFIA's primary mirror assembly above NASA's 747SP airborne astronomy aircraft just prior to...

AFRC
NASA image: An aircraft tug tows NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory 747SP into Hangar 703 upon arrival at its base, the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, CA.
Image
Jan 15, 2008

An aircraft tug tows NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory 747SP into Hangar 703 upon arrival at its base, the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, CA.

An aircraft tug tows NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory 747SP into Hangar 703 upon arrival at its base, the Dryden...

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA's primary mirror assembly is lifted above wing level prior to its reinstallation in the telescope cavity of NASA's 747 airborne observatory Oct. 8, 2008
Image
Oct 8, 2008

SOFIA's primary mirror assembly is lifted above wing level prior to its reinstallation in the telescope cavity of NASA's 747 airborne observatory Oct. 8, 2008

SOFIA's primary mirror assembly is lifted above wing level prior to its reinstallation in the telescope cavity of...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's SOFIA flying infrared observatory banks over the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility upon arrival at its new base of operations on Jan. 15, 2008.
Image
Jan 15, 2008

NASA's SOFIA flying infrared observatory banks over the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility upon arrival at its new base of operations on Jan. 15, 2008.

NASA's SOFIA flying infrared observatory banks over the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility upon arrival at its new...

AFRC
NASA image: ARC-2010-ACD10-0242-002
Image
Dec 17, 2010

ARC-2010-ACD10-0242-002

German Deligation visits Ames SOFIA Science Office for briefing and enjoy a Ames tour of CVSRF Simulator and 'fly'...

ARC
NASA image: ARC-2010-ACD10-0242-005
Image
Dec 17, 2010

ARC-2010-ACD10-0242-005

German Deligation visits Ames SOFIA Science Office for briefing and enjoy a Ames tour of CVSRF Simulator and 'fly'...

ARC
NASA image: ARC-2010-ACD10-0242-006
Image
Dec 17, 2010

ARC-2010-ACD10-0242-006

German Deligation visits Ames SOFIA Science Office for briefing and enjoy a Ames tour of CVSRF Simulator and 'fly'...

ARC
NASA image: ED15-0187-236
Image
Jun 27, 2015

ED15-0187-236

This high-dynamic range (HDR) photo of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) was captured...

AFRC
NASA image: Logos of NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) are displayed prominently on the tail of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) 747SP
Image
Apr 26, 2007

Logos of NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) are displayed prominently on the tail of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) 747SP

Logos of NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) are displayed prominently on the tail of the Stratospheric...

AFRC
NASA image: A technician examines the instrument mounting structure and bulkhead of the German-built infrared telescope installed in NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory
Image
Apr 25, 2007

A technician examines the instrument mounting structure and bulkhead of the German-built infrared telescope installed in NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory

A technician examines the instrument mounting structure and bulkhead of the German-built infrared telescope...

AFRC
NASA image: Erik Lindbergh, grandson of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, yanks the bunting to reveal the Clipper Lindbergh name on NASA's SOFIA 747SP on June 27, 2007
Image
Jun 27, 2007

Erik Lindbergh, grandson of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, yanks the bunting to reveal the Clipper Lindbergh name on NASA's SOFIA 747SP on June 27, 2007

Erik Lindbergh, grandson of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, yanks the bunting to reveal the Clipper Lindbergh name...

AFRC
NASA image: This inflight photo was taken during the first flight of the NASA and German Aerospace Center SOFIA airborne infrared observatory 747SP on April 26, 2007
Image
Apr 26, 2007

This inflight photo was taken during the first flight of the NASA and German Aerospace Center SOFIA airborne infrared observatory 747SP on April 26, 2007

Christened "Clipper Lindbergh" when it flew for Pan American Airways in the 1970s, the SOFIA 747SP shows evidence of...

AFRC
NASA image: This inflight photo was taken during the first flight of the NASA and German Aerospace Center SOFIA airborne infrared observatory 747SP on April 26, 2007
Image
Apr 26, 2007

This inflight photo was taken during the first flight of the NASA and German Aerospace Center SOFIA airborne infrared observatory 747SP on April 26, 2007

Christened "Clipper Lindbergh" when it flew for Pan American Airways in the 1970s, the SOFIA 747SP shows evidence of...

AFRC
NASA image: ARC-2010-ACD10-0242-007
Image
Dec 17, 2010

ARC-2010-ACD10-0242-007

German Deligation visits Ames SOFIA Science Office for briefing and enjoy a Ames tour from left to right Dr Benno...

ARC
NASA image: Technicians check out the mounting structure of the infrared telescope installed in NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)
Image
Apr 25, 2007

Technicians check out the mounting structure of the infrared telescope installed in NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)

Technicians check out the mounting structure of the 20-metric-ton infrared telescope installed in NASA's...

AFRC
NASA image: Technicians carefully disassemble portions of the aperture mounting assembly from NASA's SOFIA aircraft in preparation for removal of the telescope
Image
Feb 12, 2008

Technicians carefully disassemble portions of the aperture mounting assembly from NASA's SOFIA aircraft in preparation for removal of the telescope

Technicians carefully disassemble portions of the aperture mounting assembly from NASA's SOFIA aircraft in...

AFRC
NASA image: The Lowell Observatory's High-speed Imaging Photometer for Occultation rests on its dolly in the lab prior to installation on the SOFIA airborne observatory
Image
Nov 12, 2008

The Lowell Observatory's High-speed Imaging Photometer for Occultation rests on its dolly in the lab prior to installation on the SOFIA airborne observatory

The Lowell Observatory's High-speed Imaging Photometer for Occultation rests on its dolly in the lab prior to...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory in flight for the first of a series of test flights to verify the flight performance of the highly modified Boeing 747SP
Image
Oct 11, 2007

NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory in flight for the first of a series of test flights to verify the flight performance of the highly modified Boeing 747SP

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, arrived at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center...

AFRC
NASA image: Epsilon Eridani Inner Asteroid Belt
Image
Sep 14, 2017

Epsilon Eridani Inner Asteroid Belt

SCI2017_0004: Artist's illustration of the Epsilon Eridani system showing Epsilon Eridani b, right foreground, a...

ARC
PreviousPage 8 of 12Next

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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