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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 "Descent to Lunar Surface"

66 results found - Page 1 of 3

NASA image: Saturn Apollo Program
Image
Jul 6, 1969

Saturn Apollo Program

The Apollo 11 mission launched from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida via the Marshall Space Flight Center...

MSFC
NASA image: jsc2008e040725 - Panorama view of Apollo 11 Lunar surface photos taken by Astronaut Neil Armstrong at Tranquility Base of a crater Armstrong noted during the Lunar Module descent. The panoramas were built by combining Apollo 11 images starting with frame A
Image
May 20, 2008

jsc2008e040725 - Panorama view of Apollo 11 Lunar surface photos taken by Astronaut Neil Armstrong at Tranquility Base of a crater Armstrong noted during the Lunar Module descent. The panoramas were built by combining Apollo 11 images starting with frame A

jsc2008e040725 - Panorama view of Apollo 11 Lunar surface photos taken by Astronaut Neil Armstrong at Tranquility...

JSC
NASA image: Artist’s Concept Portrays SpaceX’s Starship HLS with Raptor Engines for NASA Artemis
Image
Nov 20, 2024

Artist’s Concept Portrays SpaceX’s Starship HLS with Raptor Engines for NASA Artemis

This artist’s concept portrays SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System (HLS) with two Raptor engines lit, performing...

MSFC
NASA image: Astronaut Eugene Cernan prepares to mount ladder to lunar module ascent stage
Image
Dec 13, 1972

Astronaut Eugene Cernan prepares to mount ladder to lunar module ascent stage

Astronaut Eugene A. Cernan, Apollo 17 commander, prepares to mount ladder to lunar module ascent stage. Note the...

JSC
NASA image: LUNAR LANDING - ART CONCEPT
Image
May 19, 1969

LUNAR LANDING - ART CONCEPT

S69-33765 (12 May 1969) --- Artist's concept depicting the firing of the Apollo 10 Lunar Module descent engine for...

JSC
NASA image: Apollo 11 Mission image - View of Lunar Module separation from the Command Module
Image
Jul 20, 1969

Apollo 11 Mission image - View of Lunar Module separation from the Command Module

AS11-44-6584 (20 July 1969) --- View of Apollo 11 Lunar Module (LM). This image was taken during separation of the...

JSC
NASA image: Apollo 12 Mission image - Modular Equipment Stowage Assemble (MESA) and the Fuel Cask on the Lunar Module (LM)
Image
Nov 19, 1969

Apollo 12 Mission image - Modular Equipment Stowage Assemble (MESA) and the Fuel Cask on the Lunar Module (LM)

AS12-48-7034 (19 Nov. 1969) --- A close-up view of a portion of quadrant II of the descent stage of the Apollo 12...

JSC
NASA image: ARTIST CONCEPT - APOLLO XI - LUNAR SURFACE
Image
Jul 11, 1969

ARTIST CONCEPT - APOLLO XI - LUNAR SURFACE

S69-39011 (July 1969) --- TRW Incorporated's artist concept depicting the Apollo 11 Lunar Module (LM) descending to...

JSC
NASA image: KSC-as11-40-5927
Image
Jul 20, 1969

KSC-as11-40-5927

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS - Man's first landing on the Moon was accomplished at 4:17 p.m. today as Lunar...

KSC
NASA image: View Apollo 11 Lunar Module as it rested on lunar surface
Image
Jul 20, 1969

View Apollo 11 Lunar Module as it rested on lunar surface

AS11-40-5927 (20 July 1969) --- Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot, prepares to deploy the Early...

JSC
NASA image: Ascent stage of Apollo 10 Lunar Module seen from Command module
Image
May 22, 1969

Ascent stage of Apollo 10 Lunar Module seen from Command module

AS10-34-5112 (26 May 1969) --- The ascent stage of the Apollo 10 Lunar Module (LM) is photographed from the Command...

JSC
NASA image: Saturn Apollo Program
Image
Jan 1, 1967

Saturn Apollo Program

This illustration is the Lunar Module (LM) configuration. The LM was a two part spacecraft. Its lower or descent...

MSFC
NASA image: Photographic replica of the plaque Apollo 13 astronauts will leave on moon
Image
Apr 13, 1970

Photographic replica of the plaque Apollo 13 astronauts will leave on moon

S70-34685 (April 1970) --- A photographic replica of the plaque which the Apollo 13 astronauts will leave behind on...

JSC
NASA image: PLAQUE - LUNAR SURFACE (APOLLO XV) - MSC
Image
Jul 8, 1971

PLAQUE - LUNAR SURFACE (APOLLO XV) - MSC

S71-39357 (July 1971) --- A photographic replica of the plaque which the Apollo 15 astronauts will leave behind on...

JSC
NASA image: Plaque the Apollo 14 crew will leave on the Moon
Image
Jan 27, 1971

Plaque the Apollo 14 crew will leave on the Moon

S71-16637 (January 1971) --- A close-up view of the plaque which the Apollo 14 astronauts will leave behind on the...

JSC
NASA image: Equipment - Apollo XI (Plaque) - MSC
Image
Jul 7, 1969

Equipment - Apollo XI (Plaque) - MSC

S69-38749 (July 1969) --- Close-up view of the plaque which the Apollo 11 astronauts will leave behind on the moon...

JSC
NASA image: Plaque which Apollo 11 astronauts will leave on the moon
Image
Jul 14, 1969

Plaque which Apollo 11 astronauts will leave on the moon

S69-39334 (July 1969) --- This is a replica of the plaque which the Apollo 11 astronauts will leave behind on the...

JSC
NASA image: Saturn Apollo Program
Image
Jul 20, 1969

Saturn Apollo Program

The first manned lunar landing mission, Apollo 11, launched from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida via the...

MSFC
NASA image: Saturn Apollo Program
Image
Jul 20, 1969

Saturn Apollo Program

The first manned lunar landing mission, Apollo 11, launched from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida via the...

MSFC
NASA image: Apollo 12 Mission image - Alan Bean unloads ALSEP RTG fuel element
Image
Nov 19, 1969

Apollo 12 Mission image - Alan Bean unloads ALSEP RTG fuel element

AS12-46-6790 (19 Nov. 1969) --- Astronaut Alan L. Bean, lunar module pilot, is photographed at quadrant II of the...

JSC
NASA image: INFLIGHT - APOLLO 16 (LM LAUNCH)
Image
Apr 23, 1972

INFLIGHT - APOLLO 16 (LM LAUNCH)

S72-35614 (23 April 1972) --- The Apollo 16 Lunar Module "Orion" ascent stage makes its liftoff from the lunar...

JSC
NASA image: Apollo 17 lunar module "Challenger" liftoff from Taurus-Littrow landing site
Image
Dec 14, 1972

Apollo 17 lunar module "Challenger" liftoff from Taurus-Littrow landing site

S72-55421 (14 Dec. 1972) --- The Apollo 17 Lunar Module (LM) "Challenger" ascent stage leaves the Taurus-Littrow...

JSC
NASA image: Saturn Apollo Program
Image
Jul 16, 1969

Saturn Apollo Program

Carrying astronauts Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., the Lunar Module (LM) “Eagle” was the first crewed...

MSFC
NASA image: ECN-1606
Image
Jan 11, 1967

ECN-1606

In this 1967 NASA Flight Reserch Center photograph the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) is viewed from the...

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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