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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 "SPACECRAFT RECOVERY"

2,600 results found - Page 1 of 109

NASA image: Astronaut Walter Schirra egresses spacecraft during recovery operations
Image
Oct 22, 1968

Astronaut Walter Schirra egresses spacecraft during recovery operations

Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Apollo 7 commander, egresses the spacecraft during recovery operations in the...

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NASA image: Recovery of Apollo 6 unmmaned spacecraft
Image
Apr 4, 1968

Recovery of Apollo 6 unmmaned spacecraft

S68-26989 (4 April 1968) --- The Apollo 6 Spacecraft 020 Command Module is hoisted aboard the USS Okinawa.

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NASA image: GEMINI-TITAN (GT)-IV SPACECRAFT - RECOVERY - ATLANTIC
Image
Jun 7, 1965

GEMINI-TITAN (GT)-IV SPACECRAFT - RECOVERY - ATLANTIC

S65-32962 (7 June 1965) --- The Gemini-4 (GT-4) spacecraft is hoisted aboard the recovery ship USS Wasp during...

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NASA image: Recovery of the Little Joe 5A spacecraft
Image
Mar 18, 1961

Recovery of the Little Joe 5A spacecraft

S61-01398 (18 March 1961) --- View of the recovery of the Little Joe-5A spacecraft which lifted off on March 18,...

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NASA image: U.S.S. Bennington during recovery operations for Apollo 4
Image
Nov 9, 1967

U.S.S. Bennington during recovery operations for Apollo 4

U.S.S. Bennington comes alongside the floating Apollo spacecraft 017 Command Module during recovery operations in...

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NASA image: Skylab 3 Command Module is hoisted aboard prime recovery ship
Image
Sep 25, 1973

Skylab 3 Command Module is hoisted aboard prime recovery ship

S73-36423 (25 Sept. 1973) --- The Skylab 3 Command Module, with astronauts Alan L. Bean, Owen K. Garriott and Jack...

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NASA image: APOLLO SPACECRAFT 017 - RECOVERY - ATLANTIC
Image
Nov 9, 1967

APOLLO SPACECRAFT 017 - RECOVERY - ATLANTIC

S67-49447 (9 Nov. 1967) --- Close-up view of the charred heat shield of the Apollo Spacecraft 017 Command Module...

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NASA image: Attempted Recovery - Mercury Spacecraft - End - Mercury-Redstone (MR)-4 Mission
Image
Jul 27, 1961

Attempted Recovery - Mercury Spacecraft - End - Mercury-Redstone (MR)-4 Mission

S61-02821 (21 July 1961) --- Attempted recovery of Mercury spacecraft at end of the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4)...

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NASA image: RECOVERY - APOLLO XIII (SPACECRAFT [S/C]) - MSC
Image
Apr 17, 1970

RECOVERY - APOLLO XIII (SPACECRAFT [S/C]) - MSC

S70-35472 (17 April 1970) --- Overall view of the crowded Mission Operations Control Room (MOCR) in the Mission...

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NASA image: Apollo 9 Spacecraft - Touchdown - Atlantic Recovery Area
Image
Mar 13, 1969

Apollo 9 Spacecraft - Touchdown - Atlantic Recovery Area

S69-27466 (13 March 1969) --- The Apollo 9 spacecraft, with astronauts James A. McDivitt, David R. Scott, and...

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NASA image: DOD Recovery personnel and NASA technicians inspect Friendship 7 spacecraft
Image
Feb 20, 1962

DOD Recovery personnel and NASA technicians inspect Friendship 7 spacecraft

S64-14861 (1962) --- Department of Defense (DOD) recovery personnel and spacecraft technicians from NASA and...

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NASA image: ASTRONAUT COOPER - SPACECRAFT "FAITH 7" - RECOVERY - USS KEARSAGE - PACIFIC
Image
May 16, 1963

ASTRONAUT COOPER - SPACECRAFT "FAITH 7" - RECOVERY - USS KEARSAGE - PACIFIC

S63-07701 (16 May 1963) --- Recovery Force personnel bring the Mercury-Atlas 9 (MA-9) spacecraft aboard the prime...

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NASA image: U.S.S. Hornet moves toward the Apollo 12 Command Module to retrieve it
Image
Nov 24, 1969

U.S.S. Hornet moves toward the Apollo 12 Command Module to retrieve it

U.S.S. Hornet, prime recovery vessel for the Apollo 12 lunar landing mission, moves toward the Apollo 12 Command...

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NASA image: Navy frogmen attach flotation collar to Apollo 7 command module
Image
Oct 22, 1968

Navy frogmen attach flotation collar to Apollo 7 command module

U.S. Navy frogmen attach a flotation collar to the Apollo 7 command module during recovery operations in the...

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NASA image: Attempted Recovery of Mercury spacecraft at end of MR-4 mission
Image
Jul 21, 1961

Attempted Recovery of Mercury spacecraft at end of MR-4 mission

S61-02824 (21 July 1961) --- A U.S. Marine Corps helicopter attempts an unsuccessful recovery of the...

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NASA image: Attempted Recovery of Mercury spacecraft at end of MR-4 mission
Image
Jul 21, 1961

Attempted Recovery of Mercury spacecraft at end of MR-4 mission

S61-02826 (21 July 1961) --- A U.S. Marine Corps helicopter attempts an unsuccessful recovery of the...

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NASA image: Navy Swimmers Assist - Recovery of Skylab (SL)-3 Command Module (CM) - Pacific
Image
Sep 25, 1973

Navy Swimmers Assist - Recovery of Skylab (SL)-3 Command Module (CM) - Pacific

S73-36401 (25 Sept. 1973) --- A team of U.S. Navy swimmers assists with the recovery of the Skylab 3 Command Module...

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NASA image: ASTRONAUT LOUSMA, JACK - EGRESS - SKYLAB 3 COMMAND MODULE - PACIFIC
Image
Sep 25, 1973

ASTRONAUT LOUSMA, JACK - EGRESS - SKYLAB 3 COMMAND MODULE - PACIFIC

S73-36435 (25 Sept. 1973) --- Astronaut Jack R. Lousma, Skylab 3 pilot, egresses the Skylab 3 Command Module aboard...

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NASA image: Apollo 11 spacecraft Command Module hoisted aboard U.S.S. Hornet
Image
Jul 24, 1969

Apollo 11 spacecraft Command Module hoisted aboard U.S.S. Hornet

The Apollo 11 spacecraft Command Module is photographed being lowered to the deck of the U.S.S. Hornet, prime...

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NASA image: Recovery - Apollo Spacecraft (S/C)-017
Image
Nov 9, 1967

Recovery - Apollo Spacecraft (S/C)-017

S67-49423 (9 Nov. 1967) --- The Apollo Spacecraft 017 Command Module, with flotation collar still attached, is...

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NASA image: Attempted Recovery of Mercury spacecraft at end of MR-4 mission
Image
Jul 27, 1961

Attempted Recovery of Mercury spacecraft at end of MR-4 mission

S61-02921 (21 July 1961) --- Attempted recovery of Mercury spacecraft at end of the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4)...

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NASA image: RECOVERY (HOIST SPACECRAFT ONBOARD) - GEMINI-TITAN (GT)-5 - ATLANTIC
Image
Aug 29, 1965

RECOVERY (HOIST SPACECRAFT ONBOARD) - GEMINI-TITAN (GT)-5 - ATLANTIC

S65-46630 (29 Aug. 1965) --- The Gemini-5 spacecraft is brought aboard the recovery ship, USS Lake Champlain after a...

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NASA image: Attempted Recovery - Mercury Spacecraft - End - Mercury-Redstone (MR)-4 Mission
Image
Jul 27, 1961

Attempted Recovery - Mercury Spacecraft - End - Mercury-Redstone (MR)-4 Mission

S61-02820 (21 July 1961) --- Attempted recovery of Mercury spacecraft at end of the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4)...

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NASA image: GT-7 recovery
Image
Dec 18, 1965

GT-7 recovery

S65-63644 (18 Dec. 1965) --- Crewmen of the aircraft carrier USS Wasp gather on deck to watch the recovery of the...

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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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