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

Updated

Go to images.nasa.gov, search with a keyword, switch the media filter to Video, open a result to preview it and read its metadata, then use the download option to save the file in an available size or resolution. This works for anyone with a browser and an internet connection — no account is mentioned in the site's own description, and the library is described as a single searchable location for NASA imagery and videos. The one hard requirement is JavaScript: the site returns "Please enable JavaScript to continue using this application." if it is disabled, so turn it on before troubleshooting anything else.

What the library actually contains

NASA's Image and Video Library is described as serving "consolidated imagery and videos in one searchable location." That means images, videos, and audio live in the same index rather than in separate sites, so a raw keyword search can return mixed media types. Downloads are offered "in multiple sizes and resolutions," and each item carries associated metadata — including EXIF/camera data on many images. Expect launch footage and other mission video among the results, since that is one of the library's stated content areas.

Step-by-step: find and download a video

  1. Open the library. Navigate to images.nasa.gov in a current browser. If you see only the JavaScript notice, enable JavaScript for the site and reload.
  2. Enter a search term. Type a mission, spacecraft, event, or topic keyword into the search field and run the search. Broad terms return more items; specific mission names return tighter sets.
  3. Filter to video. Use the media-type filter/facet and select Video. This is the key step — without it you are browsing a mixed pool of images, videos, and audio.
  4. Narrow further if needed. Additional facets such as year, NASA center, and collection let you cut a large result set down. Combine them when a keyword alone returns too much.
  5. Open a result. Select a video to see its preview and its metadata/description. Read the description before downloading so you know what the clip shows and how it is credited.
  6. Choose a size/resolution. Pick from the available download options. Larger resolutions mean bigger files; choose based on whether you need it for viewing, editing, or embedding.
  7. Download and locate the file. Trigger the download and let the browser save it. Where it lands depends on your browser's download settings — check the downloads list or your default download folder.

Expected result: a video file on your machine at the resolution you selected, plus the item's metadata available on the page for reference.

Choosing the right file

Your goal What to pick
Quick viewing or sharing A smaller/lower-resolution option
Editing, re-cutting, or large-screen use The largest resolution offered
Verifying source, date, or camera details The metadata/description on the item page

The library states that multiple sizes and resolutions are available, so the trade-off is simply file size versus image quality — there is no separate paid tier described.

Common problems and fixes

  • Blank page or "enable JavaScript" message. JavaScript is off or blocked. Enable it for the site (and check any script-blocking extension) before anything else.
  • No results for a query. The term may be too narrow, misspelled, or not matched in the metadata. Try a broader or alternate keyword, then re-apply the Video filter.
  • Results look like images only. The media-type filter is probably not set to Video, or it reset after a new search.
  • Download doesn't start or you can't find the file. Check the browser's download permissions and its download folder; some browsers block or silently redirect downloads.
  • Unsure whether a clip is the right one. Preview it and read the description first — the metadata is there precisely so you can confirm before downloading.