# Using NASA images: credit, logos and astronauts

> NASA photos are generally not copyrighted in the US, so you may use them commercially with a credit such as 'Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech'. Don't use the NASA insignia or logotype in your branding, don't imply NASA endorses you, and ask NASA before identifiable astronauts or staff appear in an ad. Images credited to partners (ESA, universities, companies) may be copyrighted by them.

Licensing guide, updated 2026-11-03. NASA images are free to use with credit, but the NASA logo, endorsements and astronauts in ads have rules. What's allowed, what isn't, and partner images.

## What NASA allows

Works made by US government employees as part of their job are not protected by copyright in the US. NASA's media guidelines build on that: NASA images may be used for educational, informational and commercial purposes, and NASA asks to be credited.

## What NASA doesn't allow

- **The insignia and logotype.** The "meatball" and the "worm" are trademarks. Don't put them on products or use them as part of your branding.
- **Endorsement.** Don't suggest NASA approves your product, service or organisation.
- **People in ads.** Identifiable astronauts and NASA staff need NASA's permission before they appear in advertising.

## Partner images

Many space pictures are joint work. A credit line naming ESA, the Canadian Space Agency, a university or a company means the image may be copyrighted by them. Image Asset Server marks those **check the terms** instead of **OK with credit**. ESA images are often CC BY-SA or CC BY, with their own conditions.

## Picking a size

NASA keeps the original plus 1920, 1280 and 640 px copies of most images. For the web, download the 1920 px copy; for print, the original, which for Hubble and Webb releases can be many thousands of pixels across.

## Questions

**Can I use a Hubble or Webb image on a T-shirt?**

Generally yes, with credit, if it is a NASA image and not credited to ESA or another partner, and as long as no NASA logo or endorsement is implied. Webb images are often credited NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI: check ESA's terms for those.

**Why are NASA images marked editorial here?**

Because of NASA's rules on its insignia, endorsements and identifiable people. Space photos without people or logos are usually fine for commercial use; the flag reminds you to check.

**How do I credit NASA?**

Use the credit the image gives, such as 'NASA', 'NASA/JPL-Caltech' or 'NASA/Bill Ingalls'. Image Asset Server writes it into the credit line.

## Try it

- [Hubble nebulae](https://image.shep.bot/search?q=hubble+nebula&providers=nasa)
- [Earth from the ISS](https://image.shep.bot/search?q=earth&category=space.earth&providers=nasa)

## Collections

- [Hubble and Webb space images: galaxies, nebulae](https://image.shep.bot/collections/hubble-space-images.md): Free Hubble and Webb telescope images of galaxies, nebulae and star clusters from NASA, at full resolution, with NASA's credit and usage rules shown.
- [Earth from space: free photos from orbit](https://image.shep.bot/collections/earth-from-space-photos.md): Free photos of Earth taken from orbit by the ISS, satellites and Apollo: city lights at night, storms, coastlines and sunrise over the horizon, from NASA.
- [Free Mars photos from rovers and orbiters](https://image.shep.bot/collections/mars-photos.md): Free photos of Mars from NASA's rovers and orbiters: Perseverance and Curiosity panoramas, craters, dunes and the planet from orbit, with NASA's credits.

## Related guides

- [Free images for commercial use: what you can actually use](https://image.shep.bot/guides/free-images-commercial-use.md): Which free image licences allow commercial use (CC0, public domain, CC BY, free stock licences), which don't, and what still needs a release.
- [How to credit CC BY images on websites, slides and print](https://image.shep.bot/guides/credit-cc-by-images.md): The credit line a CC BY image needs (title, author, source, licence, changes) and where to put it on a web page, a slide, a social post or in print.
- [Museum open access: free public-domain art you can reuse](https://image.shep.bot/guides/museum-open-access-art.md): How museums release public-domain art as CC0, which collections Image Asset Server searches (the Met, Art Institute of Chicago, Cleveland), and how to use them.

## Sources

- [NASA images and media usage guidelines](https://www.nasa.gov/nasa-brand-center/images-and-media/)
- [ESA/Webb image use policy](https://esawebb.org/copyright/)

This guide is practical information, not legal advice.

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Source: https://image.shep.bot/guides/nasa-image-rules