Science and environment

NASA

News, missions, images and data from the United States civilian space agency.

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Archived homepage screenshot of NASA — Archived preview
Screenshot captured on an unrecorded date. The current website may have changed.

A concrete use case

Find the origin of a space image

Use the mission or media page to identify instrument, date and credits.

Check first: Distinguish photographs, data composites and illustrations.

**NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center, photographed on 22 June 2020.** Ben Smegelsky · Original photograph · Public domain. Capture date recorded at source: Taken on 22 June 2020, 11:02:55. Resized and converted to WebP; no elements added to the photograph.

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Documented resource details

Read the complete credit for a space image

NASA media guidance distinguishes its material from third-party content. Keep the caption, full credit and source page before reuse. Establish whether the visual is a photograph, visualisation or artist’s impression.

Type: Read the caption and production method.
Credit: Retain every credited organisation or creator.
Use: Check the conditions applying to the media.
Colour composition: A false-colour image can display a non-visible band using a visible colour. This makes information readable; it should not be described as necessarily matching what a person would see on the ground.
Compare two views: Before interpreting a change, compare the dates, instruments and band combinations stated in the captions. Different colours can result from different representations. Keep these parameters with the capture rather than inferring ground change from hue alone.
Credit and endorsement: Using media must not suggest NASA endorsement of a product or service. A source credit and permission to claim commercial support are different matters.
Source: NASA — Images and media guidelines · consulted on 2026-10-17
Identifiable people: The guidelines distinguish media showing identifiable people, particularly for commercial use. Check this section as well as photographic credits and possible third-party rights.
Source: NASA — Images and media guidelines · consulted on 2026-10-17

Is every image a freely reusable photograph?

No. Check the visual type and third-party rights on its page and in the usage guidance.

Initial profile documentation

Initial profile documentation consulted on 2026-10-25. Added details carry their own source and consultation date above.

Editorial selection, without website certification. Read our method.