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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 "lifting bodies"

228 results found - Page 1 of 10

NASA image: M-2 Lifting Body, F.S.W.T. in Ames 40x80 Foot Wind Tunnel.
Image
Jul 27, 2000

M-2 Lifting Body, F.S.W.T. in Ames 40x80 Foot Wind Tunnel.

M-2 lifting body wind tunnel model with wind tunnel mechanic Chuck Greco. Model mounted on special support designed...

ARC
NASA image: X-24 (SV-5) Lifting Body In 40x80 foot Wind Tunnel.
Image
May 24, 1968

X-24 (SV-5) Lifting Body In 40x80 foot Wind Tunnel.

3/4 front view of Martin X-24A lifting body, mounted on B-52 mount.

ARC
NASA image: M-1-L Inflatable Recovery able Lifting Body Model in Ames 40x80 foot Wind Tunnel.
Image
Jun 2, 1964

M-1-L Inflatable Recovery able Lifting Body Model in Ames 40x80 foot Wind Tunnel.

3/4 front view of M-1-L inflatable recovery able lifting body model in Ames 40x80 foot wind tunnel. Mechanic, Ray...

ARC
NASA image: Dream Chaser Spacecraft Arrives at NASA Armstrong
Image
Jan 25, 2017

Dream Chaser Spacecraft Arrives at NASA Armstrong

SNC delivers Dream Chaser to NASA Armstrong posing it with the HL-10 lifting body flown the 1960s.

AFRC
NASA image: ARC-1962-A-29258
Image
Apr 15, 1962

ARC-1962-A-29258

M-2 Lifting Body being tested in Ames atmospheric entry simulator to determine the areas of most intense heat.

ARC
NASA image: ARC-1962-A-29257
Image
Apr 15, 1962

ARC-1962-A-29257

M-2 lifting body; heat transfer distribution test in the 1 ft hypervelocity wind tunnel

ARC
NASA image: ARC-1963-A-31466
Image
Oct 7, 1963

ARC-1963-A-31466

M-2 Lifting body 40x80ft Full Scale Wind Tunnle

ARC
NASA image: ARC-1965-A-35069
Image
Jul 22, 1965

ARC-1965-A-35069

M2-F2 lifting body flight vehicle in 40x80ft w.t.

ARC
NASA image: ARC-1963-A-31465
Image
Oct 7, 1963

ARC-1963-A-31465

M-2 Lifting body 40x80ft Full Scale Wind Tunnle

ARC
NASA image: ARC-1963-A-31468
Image
Oct 7, 1963

ARC-1963-A-31468

M-2 Lifting body 40x80ft Full Scale Wind Tunnle

ARC
NASA image: ARC-1963-A-31467
Image
Oct 7, 1963

ARC-1963-A-31467

M-2 Lifting body 40x80ft Full Scale Wind Tunnel

ARC
NASA image: Advanced Space Transportation Program (ASTP)
Image
Jan 23, 1995

Advanced Space Transportation Program (ASTP)

Pictured here is an artist's depiction of Lockheed Martin's Lifting Body Single-Stage-to-Orbit (SSTO) Reusable...

MSFC
NASA image: Often called the "Father of the Lifting Bodies," NASA aerospace engineer Dale Reed enjoys a moment in the cockpit of the restored wingless M2-F1 in 1997.
Image
Nov 4, 1997

Often called the "Father of the Lifting Bodies," NASA aerospace engineer Dale Reed enjoys a moment in the cockpit of the restored wingless M2-F1 in 1997.

Often called the "Father of the Lifting Bodies," NASA aerospace engineer Dale Reed enjoys a moment in the cockpit of...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA Pilot Bruce Peterson in the cockpit of the restored M2-F1 Lifting Body.
Image
Nov 4, 1997

NASA Pilot Bruce Peterson in the cockpit of the restored M2-F1 Lifting Body.

NASA Pilot Bruce Peterson in the cockpit of the restored M2-F1 Lifting Body.

AFRC
NASA image: Research Pilot Milt Thompson in M2-F2 Aircraft Attached to B-52 Mothership
Image
Feb 28, 1966

Research Pilot Milt Thompson in M2-F2 Aircraft Attached to B-52 Mothership

NASA research pilot Milt Thompson sits in the M2-F2 "heavyweight" lifting body research vehicle before a 1966 test...

AFRC
NASA image: X-24A Lifting Body on Lakebed with Control Surfaces in Subsonic, Low-drag Configuration
Image
Apr 18, 1967

X-24A Lifting Body on Lakebed with Control Surfaces in Subsonic, Low-drag Configuration

This side-rear view of the X-24A Lifting Body on the lakebed by the NASA Flight Research Center shows its control...

AFRC
NASA image: M2-F2 on ramp
Image
Feb 24, 1966

M2-F2 on ramp

The M2-F2 Lifting Body is seen here on the ramp at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. The success of Dryden's...

AFRC
NASA image: ECN-2314
Image
Sep 30, 1969

ECN-2314

Air Force Major Peter Hoag stands in front of the HL-10 Lifting Body. Maj. Hoag joined the HL-10 program in 1969 and...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA research pilot Bill Dana takes a moment to watch NASA's NB-52B cruise overhead after a research flight in the HL-10. On the left, John Reeves can be seen at the cockpit of the lifting body
Image
May 20, 1969

NASA research pilot Bill Dana takes a moment to watch NASA's NB-52B cruise overhead after a research flight in the HL-10. On the left, John Reeves can be seen at the cockpit of the lifting body

The HL-10 was one of five heavyweight lifting-body designs flown at NASA's Flight Research Center (FRC--later Dryden...

AFRC
NASA image: M2-F2 cockpit instrument panels
Image
Mar 27, 1966

M2-F2 cockpit instrument panels

This photo shows the left side cockpit instrumentation panel of the M2-F2 Lifting Body. The success of Dryden's...

AFRC
NASA image: M2-F2 cockpit instrument panels
Image
Mar 27, 1966

M2-F2 cockpit instrument panels

This photo shows the right side cockpit instrumentation panel of the M2-F2 Lifting Body. The success of Dryden's...

AFRC
NASA image: E-21089
Image
Nov 18, 1969

E-21089

The HL-10 Lifting Body is seen here in flight over Rogers Dry lakebed. Like the other lifting bodies, the HL-10 made...

AFRC
NASA image: E-21088
Image
Nov 18, 1969

E-21088

The HL-10 lifting body is seen here in flight over Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards AFB. After the vehicle's fins were...

AFRC
NASA image: Jim Newman and Bob McDonald attach an M2-F2 lifting body model to the "Mothership"
Image
Jun 26, 1968

Jim Newman and Bob McDonald attach an M2-F2 lifting body model to the "Mothership"

A photo of model airplane builders James B. Newman and Robert L. McDonald preparing for a flight with models of the...

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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