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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 "ONBOARD ACTIVITIES PAYLOAD BAY"

72 results found - Page 1 of 3

NASA image: View of Southern Cross, Alpha and Beta Centauri
Image
Mar 18, 1996

View of Southern Cross, Alpha and Beta Centauri

STS075-351-022 (22 Feb.- 9 March 1996) --- The space shuttle Columbia's vertical stabilizer appears to point to the...

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NASA image: Satellite deployment during STS-5
Image
Nov 17, 1982

Satellite deployment during STS-5

STS005-38-943 (17 Nov. 1982) --- The Satellite Business Systems (SBS-3) satellte is deployed from its protective...

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NASA image: View of the Telesat-F deployment
Image
Jun 18, 1983

View of the Telesat-F deployment

STS007-18-770 (18-24 June 1983) --- Telesat-F communications satellite is just about to clear the vertical...

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NASA image: Arabsat communications satellite deploying from Discovery's payload bay
Image
Jun 17, 1985

Arabsat communications satellite deploying from Discovery's payload bay

Arabsat communications satellite deploying from Discovery's payload bay. Cloudy Earth's surface can be seen to the...

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NASA image: Australia's AUSSAT satellite deployed from payload bay
Image
Aug 27, 1985

Australia's AUSSAT satellite deployed from payload bay

51I-32-023 (27 Aug. 1985) --- Australia's AUSSAT communications satellite is deployed from the payload bay of the...

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NASA image: BREMSAT satellite launched from STS-60 Discovery cargo bay
Image
Feb 9, 1994

BREMSAT satellite launched from STS-60 Discovery cargo bay

STS060-93-043 (9 Feb 1994) --- BREMSAT, a 140 pound (63 kilogram) satellite, quickly leaves the cargo bay of the...

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NASA image: Telstar 3-D communications satellite deploying from Discovery's payload bay
Image
Jun 17, 1985

Telstar 3-D communications satellite deploying from Discovery's payload bay

Telstar 3-D communications satellite deploying from Discovery's payload bay. Cloudy Earth's surface can be seen to...

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NASA image: View of CCTV camera mounted on aft payload bay bulkhead
Image
Apr 14, 1981

View of CCTV camera mounted on aft payload bay bulkhead

STS001-08-289 (12-14 April 1981) --- A 250mm Hasselblad view of the left OMS pod and missing tiles. Photo credit: NASA

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NASA image: Astronaut Carl Walz test portable foot restraint in aft cargo bay
Image
Sep 16, 1993

Astronaut Carl Walz test portable foot restraint in aft cargo bay

STS051-98-021 (16 Sept. 1993) --- In the Space Shuttle Discovery's aft cargo bay, astronaut Carl E. Walz gets his...

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NASA image: The American Satellite Company (ASC) satellite deployed from payload bay
Image
Aug 27, 1985

The American Satellite Company (ASC) satellite deployed from payload bay

51I-32-059 (27 August 1985) --- The American Satellite Company (ASC) communications satellite rises from the cargo...

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NASA image: Astronaut S. David Griggs waves to Orbiter during EVA
Image
Apr 16, 1985

Astronaut S. David Griggs waves to Orbiter during EVA

51D-04-025 (16 April 1985) --- Bearing a maze of interesting reflections, this aquarium-like scene came during one...

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NASA image: Astronaut Story Musgrave in payload bay during EVA
Image
Dec 9, 1993

Astronaut Story Musgrave in payload bay during EVA

STS061-65-009 (2-13 Dec 1993) --- Astronaut Jeffrey A. Hoffman is reflected in the helmet visor of F. Story Musgrave...

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NASA image: MS Peterson and MS Musgrave in payload bay (PLB) during EVA
Image
Apr 7, 1983

MS Peterson and MS Musgrave in payload bay (PLB) during EVA

STS006-10-417 (7 April 1983) --- Astronauts F. Story Musgrave, left, and Donald H. Peterson float about in the cargo...

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NASA image: Astronaut Kathryn Thornton during servicing of HST
Image
Dec 8, 1993

Astronaut Kathryn Thornton during servicing of HST

STS061-098-000K (8 Dec. 1993) --- Astronaut Kathryn C. Thornton works with equipment associated with servicing...

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NASA image: Astronaut Kathryn Sullivan checks SIR-B antenna during EVA
Image
Oct 11, 1984

Astronaut Kathryn Sullivan checks SIR-B antenna during EVA

41G-13-032 (11 Oct. 1984) --- Astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan checks the latch of the SIR-B antenna in the space...

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NASA image: Astronaut James Newman evaluates tether devices in Discovery's payload bay
Image
Sep 16, 1993

Astronaut James Newman evaluates tether devices in Discovery's payload bay

Astronaut James H. Newman, mission specialist, uses a 35mm camera to take a picture of fellow astronaut Carl E. Walz...

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NASA image: Deployment of the RCA Satcom K-2 communications satellite
Image
Nov 28, 1985

Deployment of the RCA Satcom K-2 communications satellite

61B-38-36W (28 Nov 1985) --- The 4,144-pound RCA Satcom K-2 communications satellite is photographed as it spins...

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NASA image: STS-26 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, IUS / TDRS-C deployment
Image
Sep 29, 1988

STS-26 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, IUS / TDRS-C deployment

During STS-26, inertial upper stage (IUS) with the tracking and data relay satellite C (TDRS-C) drifts above...

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NASA image: Deployment of the TDRS by STS-6 Challenger
Image
Apr 4, 1983

Deployment of the TDRS by STS-6 Challenger

STS006-38-894 (4 April 1983) --- The tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS) leaves the 18-meter (60-ft) long cargo...

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NASA image: STS-64 Discovery's cargo bay in-flight
Image
Sep 18, 1994

STS-64 Discovery's cargo bay in-flight

STS064-90-031 (9-20 Sept. 1994) --- Backdropped against the darkness of space beneath Earth's horizon 130 nautical...

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NASA image: STS-26 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, IUS / TDRS-C deployment
Image
Sep 29, 1988

STS-26 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, IUS / TDRS-C deployment

During STS-26, inertial upper stage (IUS) with the tracking and data relay satellite C (TDRS-C) located in the...

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NASA image: STS 61-A crewmembers in Spacelab D-1 science module
Image
Oct 30, 1985

STS 61-A crewmembers in Spacelab D-1 science module

61A-01-030 (30 Oct.-6 Nov. 1985) --- Mission specialist Guion S. Bluford prepares to perform a physics experiment...

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NASA image: STS-26 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, IUS / TDRS-C deployment
Image
Sep 29, 1988

STS-26 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, IUS / TDRS-C deployment

During STS-26, inertial upper stage (IUS) with tracking and data relay satellite C (TDRS-C) located in the payload...

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NASA image: Deployment of the SBS-4 communications satellite
Image
Aug 30, 1984

Deployment of the SBS-4 communications satellite

41D-36-034 (30 Aug 1984) --- Less than nine hours after the first launch of the Discovery, its astronaut crewmembers...

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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

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