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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 "airborne astronomy"

29 results found - Page 1 of 2

NASA image: echnicians lift SOFIA's primary mirror assembly above NASA's 747SP airborne astronomy aircraft just prior to installation in the telescope cavity
Image
Oct 8, 2008

echnicians lift SOFIA's primary mirror assembly above NASA's 747SP airborne astronomy aircraft just prior to installation in the telescope cavity

echnicians lift SOFIA's primary mirror assembly above NASA's 747SP airborne astronomy aircraft just prior to...

AFRC
NASA image: AFRC2017-0116-07
Image
Jan 31, 2017

AFRC2017-0116-07

Dr. Eric Becklin spoke to educators about the airborne astronomy that was conducted using SOFIA’s scientific...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) was airborne for almost two hours during its first check flight at Waco, Texas on April 26, 2007
Image
Apr 26, 2007

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) was airborne for almost two hours during its first check flight at Waco, Texas on April 26, 2007

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) was airborne for almost two hours during its first...

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA Observations Explained
Image
Jun 12, 2013

SOFIA Observations Explained

Dana Backamn explains SOFIA’s observations during a flight with Airborne Astronomy Ambassador educators Adriana...

AFRC
NASA image: Erik Lindbergh unveils a plaque commemorating his grandfather to dedicate the 747 Clipper Lindbergh, a NASA airborne infrared observatory known as SOFIA
Image
May 21, 2007

Erik Lindbergh unveils a plaque commemorating his grandfather to dedicate the 747 Clipper Lindbergh, a NASA airborne infrared observatory known as SOFIA

Erik Lindbergh, grandson of aviator Charles Lindbergh, unveiled a plaque commemorating his grandfather on the 80th...

AFRC
NASA image: Erik Lindbergh unveils a plaque commemorating his grandfather to dedicate the 747 Clipper Lindbergh, a NASA airborne infrared observatory known as SOFIA
Image
May 21, 2007

Erik Lindbergh unveils a plaque commemorating his grandfather to dedicate the 747 Clipper Lindbergh, a NASA airborne infrared observatory known as SOFIA

Erik Lindbergh, grandson of aviator Charles Lindbergh, unveiled a plaque commemorating his grandfather on the 80th...

AFRC
NASA image: ARC-2008-ACD08-0005-063
Image
Jan 14, 2008

ARC-2008-ACD08-0005-063

SOFIA visit to Ames: overheads of event of SOFIA (fStratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) on Moffett...

ARC
NASA image: ARC-1981-AC81-0615
Image
Sep 23, 1981

ARC-1981-AC81-0615

Composite Art C-141 KAO Airborne Astronomy Composite shows A/C AC80-0006-2, Venus AC78-9140, Jupiter AC79-0143-1,...

ARC
NASA image: NASA's Super Guppy in the hangar with SOFIA
Image
Aug 24, 2021

NASA's Super Guppy in the hangar with SOFIA

NASA's Super Guppy Turbine cargo aircraft in the hangar with SOFIA at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center on...

AFRC
NASA image: The Cigar Galaxy's Magnetic Field
Image
Mar 5, 2019

The Cigar Galaxy's Magnetic Field

A composite image of the Cigar Galaxy (also called M82), a starburst galaxy about 12 million light-years away in the...

JPL
NASA image: The SOFIA flight crew descends the stairs after ferrying the 747SP airborne observatory from Waco, TX, to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in California
Image
May 31, 2007

The SOFIA flight crew descends the stairs after ferrying the 747SP airborne observatory from Waco, TX, to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in California

The SOFIA flight crew, consisting of Co-pilot Gordon Fullerton; DFRC, Pilot Bill Brocket; DFRC, Test Conductor Marty...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory lands at Edwards AFB after being flown from Waco, Texas to NASA Dryden for systems installation, integration and flight test
Image
May 31, 2007

NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory lands at Edwards AFB after being flown from Waco, Texas to NASA Dryden for systems installation, integration and flight test

NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory lands at Edwards AFB after being flown from Waco, Texas to NASA Dryden for systems...

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA Studies Pluto’s Atmosphere
Image
Jun 30, 2015

SOFIA Studies Pluto’s Atmosphere

Scientists onboard SOFIA watch data come in from Pluto’s atmosphere as SOFIA flies into the shadow the dwarf planet...

AFRC
NASA image: Astronomers Smile at SOFIA’s Data
Image
Jun 11, 2013

Astronomers Smile at SOFIA’s Data

Astronomers smile while looking at data from SOFIA’s telescope.

AFRC
NASA image: Cooling Off SOFIA’S Telescope
Image
Jul 15, 2013

Cooling Off SOFIA’S Telescope

Technicians introduce liquid nitrogen to an instrument linked to SOFIA’s telescope. Detection of infrared...

AFRC
NASA image: Slow and Steady
Image
Oct 8, 2008

Slow and Steady

SOFIA’s 9-foot mirror is lowered into the cavity and attached to a structure sitting on a thin layer of oil for...

AFRC
NASA image: Studying on SOFIA
Image
Jun 21, 2013

Studying on SOFIA

James De Buizer, Senior Scientist at SOFIA Science Center, conducting observations onboard SOFIA facing the...

AFRC
NASA image: A technician guides SOFIA's primary mirror assembly into the aircraft's telescope cavity completing the mirror reinstallation following its initial coating
Image
Oct 8, 2008

A technician guides SOFIA's primary mirror assembly into the aircraft's telescope cavity completing the mirror reinstallation following its initial coating

A technician guides SOFIA's primary mirror assembly into the aircraft's telescope cavity completing the mirror...

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA's primary mirror assembly rests in its transportation cradle prior to reinstallation in NASA's airborne laboratory on Oct. 8, 2008
Image
Oct 8, 2008

SOFIA's primary mirror assembly rests in its transportation cradle prior to reinstallation in NASA's airborne laboratory on Oct. 8, 2008

SOFIA's primary mirror assembly rests in its transportation cradle prior to reinstallation in NASA's airborne...

AFRC
NASA image: Engineers and technicians prepare SOFIA's German-built primary mirror assembly for reinstallation into NASA's 747SP airborne observatory
Image
Oct 8, 2008

Engineers and technicians prepare SOFIA's German-built primary mirror assembly for reinstallation into NASA's 747SP airborne observatory

Engineers and technicians prepare SOFIA's German-built primary mirror assembly for reinstallation into NASA's 747SP...

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA's primary mirror is placed in the telescope cavity for reinstallation prior to telescope adjustments preparing SOFIA for first science
Image
Oct 8, 2008

SOFIA's primary mirror is placed in the telescope cavity for reinstallation prior to telescope adjustments preparing SOFIA for first science

SOFIA's primary mirror is placed in the telescope cavity for reinstallation prior to telescope adjustments preparing...

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA's primary mirror assembly is lifted above wing level prior to its reinstallation in the telescope cavity of NASA's 747 airborne observatory Oct. 8, 2008
Image
Oct 8, 2008

SOFIA's primary mirror assembly is lifted above wing level prior to its reinstallation in the telescope cavity of NASA's 747 airborne observatory Oct. 8, 2008

SOFIA's primary mirror assembly is lifted above wing level prior to its reinstallation in the telescope cavity of...

AFRC
NASA image: Piecing Together SOFIA’s Telescope
Image
Apr 4, 2008

Piecing Together SOFIA’s Telescope

Technicians installing the tertiary mirror onto the SOFIA telescope.

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA Prepares For Take-Off
Image
Jul 18, 2013

SOFIA Prepares For Take-Off

SOFIA’s flight crew prepare to takeoff from the U.S. Antarctic Program facility at Christchurch International...

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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