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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 "how_things_work"

14 results found

NASA image: KSC-05-S-00046
Video
Mar 3, 2005

KSC-05-S-00046

How does the Space Shuttle use parachutes? Essentially, you'll find three places on the Space Shuttle where we use...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05-S-00049
Video
Mar 3, 2005

KSC-05-S-00049

How does the Remote Manipulator System work on the Space Shuttle? The Remote Manipulator System is made for us by...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05-S-00051
Video
Mar 3, 2005

KSC-05-S-00051

How does the External Tank work? The External Tank is the backbone of the Space Shuttle during flight. What happens...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05-S-00052
Video
Mar 3, 2005

KSC-05-S-00052

How does the Orbital Maneuvering System work? At main engine cutoff for the Space Shuttle, it doesn't have...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05-S-00053
Video
Mar 3, 2005

KSC-05-S-00053

How are payloads installed on the Space Shuttle orbiter? Now the payload bay is usually filled with one, two, or...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05-S-00057
Video
Mar 4, 2005

KSC-05-S-00057

How do we prepare the orbiter for space flight? We do that at Kennedy Space Center in one of our three Orbiter...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05-S-00056
Video
Mar 4, 2005

KSC-05-S-00056

The launch processing system at the Kennedy Space Center is used to interface with the orbiter vehicle. There is a...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05-S-00058
Video
Mar 4, 2005

KSC-05-S-00058

How is the external airlock used for extra vehicular activities? The airlock that we use for going on an extra...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05-S-00050
Video
Mar 3, 2005

KSC-05-S-00050

How does the Thermal Protection System on the Space Shuttle work? The Thermal Protection System of the Space Shuttle...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05-S-00055
Video
Mar 3, 2005

KSC-05-S-00055

How does the Environmental Control and Life Support System work on board the orbiter? The Environmental Control and...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05-S-00047
Video
Mar 3, 2005

KSC-05-S-00047

How do we do Solid Rocket Booster retrieval? After the Solid Rocket Boosters have splashed down out in the ocean...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05-S-00071
Video
Mar 23, 2005

KSC-05-S-00071

How do the Solid Rocket Boosters work? The Solid Rocket Boosters are the most powerful part of the Space Shuttle. At...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-05-S-00061
Video
Mar 11, 2005

KSC-05-S-00061

How do the Space Shuttle main engines work? The three Space Shuttle main engines are located on the back end of the...

KSC
NASA image: KSC-06-S-00182
Video
Jul 20, 2006

KSC-06-S-00182

Did you ever wonder how NASA decides if the weather is good enough to launch the space shuttle? Shuttle Launch...

KSC

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

Mars Rover Photos

Curiosity & Perseverance images

Earth from Space

DSCOVR EPIC daily images

Launch Schedule

Upcoming rocket launches

Space News

Mission updates & discoveries