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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 "B-52B mothership"

23 results found

NASA image: The small size of the X-43A scramjet is evident in this nose-on view while mounted to its modified Pegasus booster under the wing of NASA's B-52B mothership
Image
Nov 15, 2004

The small size of the X-43A scramjet is evident in this nose-on view while mounted to its modified Pegasus booster under the wing of NASA's B-52B mothership

The small size of the X-43A scramjet is evident in this nose-on view while mounted to its modified Pegasus booster...

AFRC
NASA image: ED04-0362-02
Image
Dec 17, 2004

ED04-0362-02

NASA's venerable B-52B mothership launch aircraft served as the backdrop at its retirement ceremony on Dec. 17, 2004.

AFRC
NASA image: With the X-43A and its booster rocket tucked under its right wing, NASA's venerable B-52B mothership climbs out after takeoff on its final research mission
Image
Nov 16, 2004

With the X-43A and its booster rocket tucked under its right wing, NASA's venerable B-52B mothership climbs out after takeoff on its final research mission

With the X-43A and its booster rocket tucked under its right wing, NASA's venerable B-52B mothership climbs out...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA engineers monitor mission progress from a Dryden control room prior to launch of the X-43A scramjet and its booster from NASA's B-52B mothership
Image
Oct 10, 2004

NASA engineers monitor mission progress from a Dryden control room prior to launch of the X-43A scramjet and its booster from NASA's B-52B mothership

NASA engineers monitor mission progress from a Dryden control room prior to launch of the X-43A scramjet and its...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's B-52B mothership, escorted by two F-18s, makes a final flyover after its last research mission that launched the X-43A on its record Mach 9.6 flight
Image
Nov 16, 2004

NASA's B-52B mothership, escorted by two F-18s, makes a final flyover after its last research mission that launched the X-43A on its record Mach 9.6 flight

NASA's B-52B mothership, escorted by two F-18s, makes a final flyover after its last research mission that launched...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's Brad Neal, X-43A Monitor Station Operator aboard NASA's B-52B mothership, performing pre-flight checks on November 16, 2004
Image
Nov 16, 2004

NASA's Brad Neal, X-43A Monitor Station Operator aboard NASA's B-52B mothership, performing pre-flight checks on November 16, 2004

NASA X-43A Monitor Station Operator Brad Neal performs final checks and pre-flight preparations aboard the B-52 for...

AFRC
NASA image: KSC-04-S-00402
Video
Dec 21, 2004

KSC-04-S-00402

NASA retired its esteemed B-52B heavy-lift aircraft after nearly half a century of consistent service. The B-52B's...

KSC
NASA image: NASA's B-52B launch aircraft takes off carrying the third X-43A hypersonic research vehicle on a captive carry evaluation flight September 27, 2004
Image
Sep 27, 2004

NASA's B-52B launch aircraft takes off carrying the third X-43A hypersonic research vehicle on a captive carry evaluation flight September 27, 2004

Attached to the same B-52B mothership that once launched X-15 research aircraft in the 1960s, NASA's third X-43A...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's B-52B launch aircraft takes off carrying the third X-43A hypersonic research vehicle on a captive carry evaluation flight September 27, 2004
Image
Sep 27, 2004

NASA's B-52B launch aircraft takes off carrying the third X-43A hypersonic research vehicle on a captive carry evaluation flight September 27, 2004

Attached to the same B-52B mothership that once launched X-15 research aircraft in the 1960s, NASA's third X-43A...

AFRC
NASA image: ED04-0362-08
Image
Dec 17, 2004

ED04-0362-08

Dryden Center director Kevin Petersen shakes hands with AFFTC commander, Brig. Gen. Curtis Bedke, at the retirement...

AFRC
NASA image: ED04-0362-07
Image
Dec 17, 2004

ED04-0362-07

DFRC director Kevin Petersen speaks to an audience of NASA and Air Force visitors, employees and special guests at...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA B-52B Carries Pegasus Booster, X-43A Aircraft
Image
Jan 26, 2004

NASA B-52B Carries Pegasus Booster, X-43A Aircraft

Final preparations are underway for NASA’s B-52B to carry the Pegasus booster rocket and the hypersonic X-43A...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA B-52B Carries Pegasus Booster, X-43A Aircraft
Image
Jan 27, 2004

NASA B-52B Carries Pegasus Booster, X-43A Aircraft

From left, pilot Craig Bomben, photographer Carla Thomas, pilot Frank Batteas, and videographer Lori Losey make up...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA B-52B Carries Pegasus Booster, X-43A Aircraft
Image
Jan 22, 2004

NASA B-52B Carries Pegasus Booster, X-43A Aircraft

The Pegasus booster rocket, carrying the X-43A hypersonic aircraft, is mounted beneath NASA’s B-52B wing. A dry run,...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA B-52B Carries Pegasus Booster, X-43A Aircraft
Image
Jan 22, 2004

NASA B-52B Carries Pegasus Booster, X-43A Aircraft

The X-43A is attached to the front of a Pegasus booster rocket, which is set to be carried beneath NASA’s B-52B...

AFRC
NASA image: Orbital Sciences Corp. technicians remove protective shrouds from the modified Pegasus booster before takeoff on the X-43A's Mach 9.6 record scramjet flight
Image
Nov 16, 2004

Orbital Sciences Corp. technicians remove protective shrouds from the modified Pegasus booster before takeoff on the X-43A's Mach 9.6 record scramjet flight

Orbital Sciences Corp. technicians remove protective shrouds from the modified Pegasus booster before takeoff on the...

AFRC
NASA image: A modified Pegasus rocket ignites moments after release from the B-52B, beginning the acceleration of the X-43A over the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 16, 2004
Image
Nov 16, 2004

A modified Pegasus rocket ignites moments after release from the B-52B, beginning the acceleration of the X-43A over the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 16, 2004

The third X-43A hypersonic research aircraft and its modified Pegasus booster rocket accelerate after launch from...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA avionics technicians Randy Wagner and Terry Bishop make final adjustments on the scramjet-powered X-43A before its record Mach 9.6 flight
Image
Nov 16, 2004

NASA avionics technicians Randy Wagner and Terry Bishop make final adjustments on the scramjet-powered X-43A before its record Mach 9.6 flight

NASA avionics technicians Randy Wagner and Terry Bishop make final adjustments on the scramjet-powered X-43A before...

AFRC
NASA image: A modified Pegasus rocket drops away after release from NASA's B-52B before accelerating the X-43A over a Pacific Ocean test range on Nov. 16, 2004
Image
Nov 16, 2004

A modified Pegasus rocket drops away after release from NASA's B-52B before accelerating the X-43A over a Pacific Ocean test range on Nov. 16, 2004

The third X-43A hypersonic research aircraft and its modified Pegasus booster rocket drop away from NASA's B-52B...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's B-52B launch aircraft takes off carrying the third X-43A hypersonic research vehicle attached to a modified Pegasus rocket, on November 16, 2004
Image
Nov 16, 2004

NASA's B-52B launch aircraft takes off carrying the third X-43A hypersonic research vehicle attached to a modified Pegasus rocket, on November 16, 2004

The third X-43A hypersonic research aircraft and its modified Pegasus booster rocket left the runway, carried aloft...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's B-52B launch aircraft cruises to a test range over the Pacific Ocean carrying the third X-43A vehicle attached to a Pegasus rocket on November 16, 2004
Image
Nov 16, 2004

NASA's B-52B launch aircraft cruises to a test range over the Pacific Ocean carrying the third X-43A vehicle attached to a Pegasus rocket on November 16, 2004

The third X-43A hypersonic research aircraft, attached to a modified Pegasus booster rocket, was taken to launch...

AFRC
NASA image: The Pegasus rocket that powered NASA's X-43A scramjet to almost Mach 10 test conditions leaves a bright arc in the Pacific sky during the boost phase
Image
Nov 16, 2004

The Pegasus rocket that powered NASA's X-43A scramjet to almost Mach 10 test conditions leaves a bright arc in the Pacific sky during the boost phase

The Pegasus rocket that powered NASA's X-43A scramjet to almost Mach 10 test conditions leaves a bright arc in the...

AFRC
NASA image: ED04-0362-01
Image
Dec 17, 2004

ED04-0362-01

Retired NASA Dryden research pilot Ed Schneider served as master of ceremonies at the retirement ceremony for NASA's...

AFRC

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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