How to Search and Download Images, Videos, and Audio from the NASA Image and Video Library

The NASA Image and Video Library at images.nasa.gov is a single searchable catalog that consolidates NASA imagery, video, and audio, and lets you download files in multiple sizes and resolutions. It works for anyone who needs NASA visuals for personal, educational, or reporting use — but the site requires JavaScript, so a blank page usually means JavaScript is disabled or still loading. Usage is governed by NASA's media usage guidelines, which you should check before republishing anything.

What the library contains

The catalog covers three media types in one search:

• Images — still photography, including many files that carry EXIF/camera metadata.
• Video — including launch footage and other mission video.
• Audio — NASA sound recordings.

Each item page shows the metadata associated with the asset, and many images expose EXIF/camera data such as the camera used and capture settings.

Searching the library

1. Open images.nasa.gov in a browser with JavaScript enabled.
2. Enter a term in the search bar — a mission name, spacecraft, person, or event.
3. Narrow the results using the available filters, which include media type (image, video, audio), year, and keywords.
4. Open a result to see its full item page.

If the page stays blank, the cause is almost always JavaScript being blocked or the application not finishing its load. Enable JavaScript for the site and reload; if it still stalls, the page may simply be slow to load, so give it time or try again.

Reading an item's metadata

The item page is where you confirm you have the right asset before downloading:

• Description and keywords — what the asset shows and how NASA tags it.
• Date and source — when it was captured or published and which NASA center or mission it came from.
• EXIF/camera data — on many images, the camera body and capture settings.
• Available download sizes and resolutions — the specific file options for that item.

Checking the metadata first matters because a search result thumbnail can look right while the full-resolution file is a different frame or crop.

Downloading images, videos, and audio

1. Open the item you want.
2. Find the download options on the item page.
3. Choose the size or resolution that fits your use — a small file for a slide or web page, a larger one for print or editing.
4. Save the file to your device.

The same flow applies across media types: images, video, and audio each offer their own downloadable versions at the resolutions NASA provides for that asset.

Usage terms and credit

Before you reuse anything, read NASA's media usage guidelines. NASA content is generally reusable, but the guidelines set out the conditions and the credit requirements — how NASA should be identified as the source. Check the guidelines for the specific asset and your specific use rather than assuming a blanket rule, and note that some items may carry third-party rights that NASA flags on the item page.

Common problems

Quick reference

• Site: images.nasa.gov
• Media types: images, video, audio
• Filters: media type, year, keywords
• Metadata: description, keywords, date, source, and EXIF/camera data on many images
• Downloads: multiple sizes and resolutions per item
• Before reuse: read NASA's media usage guidelines and follow credit requirements