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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 "Propulsion concepts"

159 results found - Page 1 of 7

NASA image: Research Technology
Image
Apr 15, 2004

Research Technology

Harnessing the Sun's energy through Solar Thermal Propulsion will propel vehicles through space by significantly...

MSFC
NASA image: Research Technology
Image
Aug 1, 2002

Research Technology

A new, world-class laboratory for research into future space transportation technologies is under construction at...

MSFC
NASA image: A simple sketch on a TWA napkin by NASA Dryden engineer Frank W. "Bill" Burcham led to development and validation of the Propulsion-Controlled Aircraft concept.
Image
Oct 11, 1994

A simple sketch on a TWA napkin by NASA Dryden engineer Frank W. "Bill" Burcham led to development and validation of the Propulsion-Controlled Aircraft concept.

A simple sketch on a TWA napkin by NASA Dryden engineer Frank W. "Bill" Burcham led to development and validation of...

AFRC
NASA image: RoboSimian to the Rescue
Image
Jul 3, 2013

RoboSimian to the Rescue

This artist concept depicts RoboSimian, a disaster-relief and -mitigation robot, grasping the rung of a ladder....

JPL
NASA image: Mars 2020 Search for Ancient Life Briefing
Image
Feb 17, 2021

Mars 2020 Search for Ancient Life Briefing

Mars Sample Return program manager, JPL, Bobby Braun, shows a concept model of NASA's orbiting sample container,...

HQ
NASA image: Mars 2020 Search for Ancient Life Briefing
Image
Feb 17, 2021

Mars 2020 Search for Ancient Life Briefing

Mars Sample Return program manager, JPL, Bobby Braun, shows a concept model of NASA's orbiting sample container,...

HQ
NASA image: Pathfinder
Image
Apr 15, 2004

Pathfinder

This picture is an artist's concept of an orbiting vehicle using the Electrodynamic Tethers Propulsion System....

MSFC
NASA image: Research Technology
Image
Oct 21, 1999

Research Technology

Pictured is an artist's concept of an advanced chemical propulsion system called Pulse Detonation. Long term...

MSFC
NASA image: Dawn Blue Glow Artist Concept
Image
Mar 2, 2015

Dawn Blue Glow Artist Concept

This artist concept shows NASA Dawn spacecraft arriving at the dwarf planet Ceres. Dawn travels through space using...

JPL
NASA image: Research Technology
Image
Oct 21, 1999

Research Technology

Travel to distant stars is a long-range goal of Marshall Space Flight Center's Advanced Concept Group. One of the...

MSFC
NASA image: Early Program Development
Image
Jan 1, 1970

Early Program Development

In this artist's concept from 1970, propulsion concepts such as the Nuclear Shuttle and Space Tug are shown in...

MSFC
NASA image: AquaSimian Poster Artist Concept
Image
Mar 11, 2015

AquaSimian Poster Artist Concept

This artist's rendering shows a concept for a robot called AquaSimian that would assist with hazardous situations...

JPL
NASA image: NASA Tests Swimming Robots for Exploring Oceans on Icy Moons
Video
Nov 19, 2024

NASA Tests Swimming Robots for Exploring Oceans on Icy Moons

A futuristic NASA mission concept envisions a swarm of dozens of self-propelled, cellphone-size robots exploring the...

JPL
NASA image: Space Shuttle Project
Image
Mar 7, 1972

Space Shuttle Project

This early chart conceptualizes the use of two parallel Solid Rocket Motor Boosters in conjunction with three main...

MSFC
NASA image: Early Program Development
Image
Jan 1, 1970

Early Program Development

Managed by Marshall Space Flight Center, the Space Tug concept was intended to be a reusable multipurpose space...

MSFC
NASA image: Early Program Development
Image
Jan 1, 1986

Early Program Development

In this 1986 artist's concept, the Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV), is shown without its main propulsion module....

MSFC
NASA image: Research and Technology
Image
Jan 9, 1998

Research and Technology

The Direct Gain Solar Thermal Engine was designed with no moving parts. The concept of Solar Thermal Propulsion...

MSFC
NASA image: Early Program Development
Image
Jan 1, 1970

Early Program Development

Managed by Marshall Space Flight Center, the Space Tug concept was intended to be a reusable multipurpose space...

MSFC
NASA image: Early Program Development
Image
Jan 1, 1970

Early Program Development

Managed by Marshall Space Flight Center, the Space Tug concept was intended to be a reusable multipurpose space...

MSFC
NASA image: Early Program Development
Image
Jan 1, 1970

Early Program Development

Managed by Marshall Space Flight Center, the Space Tug was intended to be a reusable multipurpose space vehicle...

MSFC
NASA image: Early Program Development
Image
Jan 1, 1970

Early Program Development

Managed by Marshall Space Flight Center, the Space Tug concept was intended to be a reusable multipurpose space...

MSFC
NASA image: Research Technology
Image
May 12, 1999

Research Technology

The Gasdynamic Mirror, or GDM, is an example of a magnetic mirror-based fusion propulsion system. Its design is...

MSFC
NASA image: Early Program Development
Image
Jan 1, 1986

Early Program Development

In this 1986 artist's concept, the Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV), undergoes changeout of the Propulsion Module...

MSFC
NASA image: Research Technology
Image
Apr 15, 2004

Research Technology

The Boussard Interstellar Ramjet engine concept uses interstellar hydrogen scooped up from its environment as the...

MSFC
PreviousPage 1 of 7Next

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

Daily curated space image

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Space News

Mission updates & discoveries