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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.

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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 "THERMAL PROTECTION TILES"

441 results found - Page 1 of 19

NASA image: KSC-2013-3689
Image
Aug 30, 2013

KSC-2013-3689

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2013-3691
Image
Aug 30, 2013

KSC-2013-3691

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2013-3690
Image
Aug 30, 2013

KSC-2013-3690

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Operations and Checkout Building high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in...

KSC
NASA image: F-15A in flight closeup of 10 degree cone experiment
Image
Feb 4, 1976

F-15A in flight closeup of 10 degree cone experiment

The number two F-15A (Serial #71-0281) was obtained by NASA from the U.S. Air Force in 1976 and was used for more...

AFRC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC employee Chris Moore repairs tile on the forward area of the orbiter Discovery. The vehicle has undergone Orbiter Major Modifications in the past year, which includes tile check and repair. The tiles are part of the Orbiter Thermal Protection System, thermal shields to protect against temperatures as high as 3,000° Fahrenheit, which are produced during descent for landing. Discovery is scheduled to fly on mission STS-121 to the International Space Station.
Image
Dec 9, 2003

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC employee Chris Moore repairs tile on the forward area of the orbiter Discovery. The vehicle has undergone Orbiter Major Modifications in the past year, which includes tile check and repair. The tiles are part of the Orbiter Thermal Protection System, thermal shields to protect against temperatures as high as 3,000° Fahrenheit, which are produced during descent for landing. Discovery is scheduled to fly on mission STS-121 to the International Space Station.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC employee Chris Moore repairs tile on the...

KSC
NASA image: ARC-1974-AC74-2000
Image
May 15, 1974

ARC-1974-AC74-2000

Space Shuttle Tile Thermal Protection System testing in Ames Arc Jet facilities

ARC
NASA image: ARC-1994-AC94-0116
Image
Mar 10, 1994

ARC-1994-AC94-0116

Studio portrait of Ames Developed Thermal Protection System (TPS) tiles - the RCG and TUFI

ARC
NASA image: KSC-2011-1399
Image
Feb 8, 2011

KSC-2011-1399

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a thermal...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2011-1402
Image
Feb 8, 2011

KSC-2011-1402

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a thermal...

KSC
NASA image: Tile survey seen during EVA 3
Image
Aug 3, 2005

Tile survey seen during EVA 3

S114-E-6388 (3 August 2005) --- A close-up view of a portion of the thermal protection tiles on Space Shuttle...

JSC
NASA image: KSC-2012-1587
Image
Mar 1, 2012

KSC-2012-1587

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The heat shield tiles that will be installed to the backshell of the Orion Multi-Purpose...

KSC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On a tour of the Tile Shop, members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) learn about PU-tiles, part of an orbiter’s Thermal Protection System. At left is Martin Wilson, with United Space Alliance. Others (left to right) around the table are James Adamson, Dr. Kathryn Clark, William Wegner, Richard Covey and Joe Engle. Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, is co-chair of the SCTG, along with Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.
Image
Aug 6, 2003

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On a tour of the Tile Shop, members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) learn about PU-tiles, part of an orbiter’s Thermal Protection System. At left is Martin Wilson, with United Space Alliance. Others (left to right) around the table are James Adamson, Dr. Kathryn Clark, William Wegner, Richard Covey and Joe Engle. Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, is co-chair of the SCTG, along with Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On a tour of the Tile Shop, members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group...

NASA image: Orion EM-1 "The Tiles that Bond"
Image
Jul 8, 2016

Orion EM-1 "The Tiles that Bond"

At Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians bond thermal protection system tiles to Orion's backshell panels on...

JSC
NASA image: Orion EM-1 "The Tiles that Bond"
Image
Jul 8, 2016

Orion EM-1 "The Tiles that Bond"

At Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians bond thermal protection system tiles to Orion's backshell panels on...

JSC
NASA image: KSC-2011-1476
Image
Feb 17, 2011

KSC-2011-1476

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a thermal...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2011-1477
Image
Feb 17, 2011

KSC-2011-1477

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a thermal...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2011-1474
Image
Feb 17, 2011

KSC-2011-1474

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a thermal...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2011-1470
Image
Feb 17, 2011

KSC-2011-1470

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a thermal...

KSC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV hangar, members of the Columbia Reconstruction Team work to identify pieces of Thermal Protection System tile from the left wing of Columbia recovered during the search and recovery efforts in East Texas. The items shipped to KSC number more than 82,000 and weigh 84,800 pounds or 38 percent of the total dry weight of Columbia. Of those items, 78,760 have been identified, with 753 placed on the left wing grid in the Hangar.
Image
May 15, 2003

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV hangar, members of the Columbia Reconstruction Team work to identify pieces of Thermal Protection System tile from the left wing of Columbia recovered during the search and recovery efforts in East Texas. The items shipped to KSC number more than 82,000 and weigh 84,800 pounds or 38 percent of the total dry weight of Columbia. Of those items, 78,760 have been identified, with 753 placed on the left wing grid in the Hangar.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the RLV hangar, members of the Columbia Reconstruction Team work to identify pieces...

KSC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- United Space Alliance (USA) Vice President and Space Shuttle Program Manager Howard DeCastro (left) and NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Station and Shuttle Programs Michael Kostelnik (third from left) watch as a USA technician (right) creates a tile for use in the Shuttle's Thermal Protection System (TPS). NASA and USA Space Shuttle program management are participating in a leadership workday. The day is intended to provide management with an in-depth, hands-on look at Shuttle processing activities at KSC.
Image
Dec 19, 2003

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- United Space Alliance (USA) Vice President and Space Shuttle Program Manager Howard DeCastro (left) and NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Station and Shuttle Programs Michael Kostelnik (third from left) watch as a USA technician (right) creates a tile for use in the Shuttle's Thermal Protection System (TPS). NASA and USA Space Shuttle program management are participating in a leadership workday. The day is intended to provide management with an in-depth, hands-on look at Shuttle processing activities at KSC.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- United Space Alliance (USA) Vice President and Space Shuttle Program Manager Howard...

KSC
NASA image: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- From left, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Station and Shuttle Programs Michael Kostelnik and United Space Alliance (USA) Vice President and Space Shuttle Program Manager Howard DeCastro are briefed on the properties of the tile used in the Shuttle's Thermal Protection System (TPS) by USA Manager of the TPS Facility Martin Wilson (right). NASA and USA Space Shuttle program management are participating in a leadership workday. The day is intended to provide management with an in-depth, hands-on look at Shuttle processing activities at KSC.
Image
Dec 19, 2003

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- From left, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Station and Shuttle Programs Michael Kostelnik and United Space Alliance (USA) Vice President and Space Shuttle Program Manager Howard DeCastro are briefed on the properties of the tile used in the Shuttle's Thermal Protection System (TPS) by USA Manager of the TPS Facility Martin Wilson (right). NASA and USA Space Shuttle program management are participating in a leadership workday. The day is intended to provide management with an in-depth, hands-on look at Shuttle processing activities at KSC.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- From left, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Station and Shuttle Programs...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2012-1576
Image
Mar 1, 2012

KSC-2012-1576

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The heat shield tiles that will be installed to the backshell of the Orion Multi-Purpose...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-2012-1575
Image
Mar 1, 2012

KSC-2012-1575

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The heat shield tiles that will be installed to the backshell of the Orion Multi-Purpose...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-04pd1902
Image
Sep 22, 2004

KSC-04pd1902

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers attempt to secure the roof of the Tile Shop in the Thermal Protection System...

KSC
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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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KSC