# Rocket launch footage: liftoffs and missions > Free rocket launch videos from NASA and open archives: liftoffs, engine close-ups, tracking shots and historic launches, with credit lines and partner warnings. 19 clips from 2 sources (NASA Image and Video Library 14, Internet Archive 5), updated 2026-10-28. Picked from a live search and refreshed daily. - Same search in the browser: https://video.shep.bot/search?q=rocket+launch&category=space.launch - Same search over the API: `curl "https://video.shep.bot/v1/search?q=rocket+launch&category=space.launch"` - Details, files and the credit line: `GET https://video.shep.bot/v1/clips/{id}` with an id from the table below. - Licence verdicts: "Commercial use OK" (with or without credit) is cleared for commercial videos; anything else must be checked or is non-commercial. "(editorial)" means people, insignia or brands appear without releases: not for ads. See https://video.shep.bot/docs/licences.md - Video is never re-hosted: posters, previews and downloads come straight from the source sites. ## Liftoff A launch is one of the most dramatic shots in stock footage: ignition, smoke billowing from the pad, a vehicle climbing on a column of fire. NASA films its launches from many angles, from wide pad shots to long-lens tracking and high-speed engine close-ups, and the Internet Archive and Wikimedia Commons hold historic launches from the Apollo and shuttle eras. ## Check the credit line Launches involve partners. NASA footage credited to NASA is free to use with credit; footage credited to a launch company or another agency may be theirs, which is why such clips are marked 'check the terms'. NASA's insignia on the vehicle is fine in an editorial context, but don't use it as branding, and don't imply NASA endorses your product. Hover a card to preview the launch straight from the source; open it for every rendition up to the master. ## Clips | Clip | id | What | Source | Licence | Commercial use | Direct download | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [TROPICS Rocket Launch](https://images.nasa.gov/details/KSC-20230507-MH-RLS01-TROPICS_Rocket_Launch-Rocket_Lab-WON_3330130) | `nasa:KSC-20230507-MH-RLS01-TROPICS_Rocket_Launch-Rocket_Lab-WON_3330130` | Launches & missions, 2023 | NASA Image and Video Library | NASA media (third-party credit) | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [STS-135: Solid Rocket Booster Camera Video of Atlantis Launch](https://archive.org/details/Sts-135SolidRocketBoosterCameraVideoOfAtlantisLaunch) | `internetarchive:Sts-135SolidRocketBoosterCameraVideoOfAtlantisLaunch` | Launches & missions, 32:43 | Internet Archive | Public domain | Commercial use OK (editorial) | yes | | [NASA Conducts Space Launch System Rocket Full-Scale Booster Test](https://images.nasa.gov/details/NHQ_2020_0902_NASA%20CONDUCTS%20SPACE%20LAUNCH%20SYSTEM%20ROCKET%20FULL-SCALE%20BOOSTER%20TEST_FIX) | `nasa:NHQ_2020_0902_NASA CONDUCTS SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM ROCKET FULL-SCALE BOOSTER TEST_FIX` | Launches & missions, 2020 | NASA Image and Video Library | NASA media (public domain in the US) | Commercial use OK with credit (editorial) | yes | | [Multiple Launch Rocket System](https://archive.org/details/mlrs_overview) | `internetarchive:mlrs_overview` | Launches & missions, 12:00 | Internet Archive | Public domain | Unclear: check the terms (editorial) | yes | | [Rocket-Lovers Watch OSIRIS-REx Launch](https://images.nasa.gov/details/GSFC_20160909_M12368_OSIRIS_launch) | `nasa:GSFC_20160909_M12368_OSIRIS_launch` | Launches & missions, 2016 | NASA Image and Video Library | NASA media (public domain in the US) | Commercial use OK with credit (editorial) | yes | | [NOAA-N Prime Atop Delta II Rocket Ready For Launch Feb. 4](https://archive.org/details/DutchCollinsNOAA-NPrimeAtopDeltaIIRocketReadyForLaunchFeb.4) | `internetarchive:DutchCollinsNOAA-NPrimeAtopDeltaIIRocketReadyForLaunchFeb.4` | Launches & missions | Internet Archive | Public domain | Unclear: check the terms (editorial) | yes | | [Rocket Lab Capstone Live Launch Coverage - ROCKET VIEWS](https://images.nasa.gov/details/KSC-20220628-VP-MMS01-0001-RocketLab_Capstone_Live_Launch_Coverage_ROCKET_VIEWS_ONLY-3306978) | `nasa:KSC-20220628-VP-MMS01-0001-RocketLab_Capstone_Live_Launch_Coverage_ROCKET_VIEWS_ONLY-3306978` | Launches & missions, 2022 | NASA Image and Video Library | NASA media (public domain in the US) | Commercial use OK with credit (editorial) | yes | | [Fangruida- The father of modern non-traditional chemical-fuel dual-engine high-speed heavy-load rockets (nuclear-powered high-polymer composite rocket technology integration) (Alvis)](https://archive.org/details/DC110618042905) | `internetarchive:DC110618042905` | Launches & missions, Slow motion, 2013 | Internet Archive | Public domain | Unclear: check the terms (editorial) | yes | | [NASA Rolls Out Space Launch System Rocket’s Core Stage from Michoud Factory](https://images.nasa.gov/details/MAF_20200108_CS1%20rollout-1min%20Cut-FINAL-UHD) | `nasa:MAF_20200108_CS1 rollout-1min Cut-FINAL-UHD` | Launches & missions, 2020 | NASA Image and Video Library | NASA media (public domain in the US) | Commercial use OK with credit (editorial) | yes | | [Fangruida/Overloaded rockets and rocket ---- overweight major technology aerospace technology](https://archive.org/details/DV100202064542) | `internetarchive:DV100202064542` | Launches & missions, 2014 | Internet Archive | Public domain | Unclear: check the terms (editorial) | yes | | [Rocket Lab PREFIRE-1 Launch](https://images.nasa.gov/details/KSC-20240525-MH-RKL01-0001-Rocket_Lab_PREFIRE_1_Launch_1080p-M6988) | `nasa:KSC-20240525-MH-RKL01-0001-Rocket_Lab_PREFIRE_1_Launch_1080p-M6988` | Launches & missions, 2024 | NASA Image and Video Library | NASA media (third-party credit) | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [NASA joins last of five sections for Space Launch System Rocket stage](https://images.nasa.gov/details/MAF_20190917_Artemis%201%20ES%20Join_BROLL) | `nasa:MAF_20190917_Artemis 1 ES Join_BROLL` | Launches & missions, 2019 | NASA Image and Video Library | NASA media (public domain in the US) | Commercial use OK with credit (editorial) | yes | | [Rocket Lab PREFIRE and Ice Launch](https://images.nasa.gov/details/KSC-20240605-MH-RKL01-0001-Rocket_Lab_PREFIRE_and_Ice_Launch_1080p-M6988) | `nasa:KSC-20240605-MH-RKL01-0001-Rocket_Lab_PREFIRE_and_Ice_Launch_1080p-M6988` | Launches & missions, 2024 | NASA Image and Video Library | NASA media (third-party credit) | Unclear: check the terms | yes | | [Launch of the Northrop Grumman CRS-14 Antares Rocket](https://images.nasa.gov/details/NHQ_2020_1002_Launch%20of%20the%20Northrop%20Grumman%20CRS-14%20Antares%20Rocket) | `nasa:NHQ_2020_1002_Launch of the Northrop Grumman CRS-14 Antares Rocket` | Launches & missions, 2020 | NASA Image and Video Library | NASA media (public domain in the US) | Commercial use OK with credit (editorial) | yes | | [Timelapse_NASA's SLS Rocket and Orion Spacecraft Second Rollout to Launch Pad 39B](https://images.nasa.gov/details/KSC_SLS_ART%20II%20Timelapse%20Rollout%202%20to%20Pad%2016-9) | `nasa:KSC_SLS_ART II Timelapse Rollout 2 to Pad 16-9` | Launches & missions, Timelapse, 2026 | NASA Image and Video Library | NASA media (public domain in the US) | Commercial use OK with credit (editorial) | yes | | [NASA's SLS Rocket and Orion Spacecraft Rollout to Launch Pad 39B](https://images.nasa.gov/details/KSC_20260117_A2_to_39B) | `nasa:KSC_20260117_A2_to_39B` | Launches & missions, 2026 | NASA Image and Video Library | NASA media (public domain in the US) | Commercial use OK with credit (editorial) | yes | | [NASA Administrator Highlights Space Launch System Rocket Booster Test](https://images.nasa.gov/details/JB_UtahFSB_Shorter) | `nasa:JB_UtahFSB_Shorter` | Launches & missions, 2020 | NASA Image and Video Library | NASA media (public domain in the US) | Commercial use OK with credit (editorial) | yes | | [Jennifer Takeshita, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Discusses Building the Adapter for the Space Launch System Rocket](https://images.nasa.gov/details/MSFC_SLS_07172020_Jennifer_Takeshita_TBE_LVSA_Rollout) | `nasa:MSFC_SLS_07172020_Jennifer_Takeshita_TBE_LVSA_Rollout` | Launches & missions, 2020 | NASA Image and Video Library | NASA media (public domain in the US) | Commercial use OK with credit (editorial) | yes | | [B-Roll: NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility assemble main structures of NASA’s Space Launch System Rocket’s Core stage](https://images.nasa.gov/details/MAF_20191204_SLSAssembly-B-roll-UHD) | `nasa:MAF_20191204_SLSAssembly-B-roll-UHD` | Launches & missions, 2019 | NASA Image and Video Library | NASA media (public domain in the US) | Commercial use OK with credit (editorial) | yes | ## Questions **Is footage of a SpaceX or Rocket Lab launch on NASA's site free to use?** Not automatically. When NASA distributes a partner's footage, the partner may own the copyright; such clips are marked 'check the terms'. Footage NASA filmed itself is free to use with credit. **Where do I find slow-motion launch shots?** NASA publishes high-speed camera footage of launches and engine tests. Search 'rocket launch slow motion' or check each clip's frame rate in its details. ## Related collections - [Free space footage: planets, stars and missions](https://video.shep.bot/footage/free-space-footage.md): Free space stock video from NASA and open archives: planets, the Sun and Moon, galaxies, spacecraft and astronauts, with NASA's credit rules shown. - [Earth from space videos: orbit views and globes](https://video.shep.bot/footage/earth-from-space-videos.md): Free videos of Earth from space: views from the space station, rotating globes, night lights, weather and auroras from NASA, with credit lines ready. - [Free slow-motion footage: high frame rate clips](https://video.shep.bot/footage/free-slow-motion-footage.md): Free slow-motion stock video: water, launches, animals and motion shot at high frame rates, with the fps shown so you know how far each clip can be slowed down. - [Public-domain newsreels and documentary footage](https://video.shep.bot/footage/public-domain-newsreels.md): Free newsreels and documentary films from the Internet Archive and Wikimedia Commons: wartime, public information and news footage, with year. - [NASA data visualisations and science animations](https://video.shep.bot/footage/nasa-data-visualizations.md): Free science visualisations from NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio and others: weather, oceans, the Sun and Moon, often 4K at 60 fps. --- Source: https://video.shep.bot/footage/rocket-launch-footage