National Air and Space Museum

Twinkle, twinkle, little...wait a minute, is that a star or something else? And just how "little" is it? What are you actually looking at when you gaze up at the night sky? This is a question that scientists have been wondering for generations. In this episode we will take a look at the night...

Quick, name some famous spies! Who did you come up with? Jack Ryan? Ethan Hunt? James Bond? Movie spies are fun and resourceful, but real life spies rely on a lot more than fancy gadgets and powerful informants — they need as much information as they can get. In this episode, we'll explore how...

Bees are important to the environment, but did you know they are also important for the aerospace industry? This episode is buzzing with bees as we discuss the flying insects and explore research being done on them. You will also see how the honeycomb structure is used in the aerospace industry...

Every big machine relies on a series of simple machines to get the job done. Can you name the six simple machines? The air- and spacecraft at the National Air and Space Museum operate thanks to simple machines, and we even use simple machines to put our artifacts on display. In this episode we'...

Everyone remembers Neil Armstrong’s "One Small Step," but just four months later humans walked on the surface of the Moon for the second time. Do you know what Pete Conrad's first words were when he became the third person to walk on the Moon? Join us as we discuss the Apollo 12 mission, and ask...

From the time the airplane first took to the air, women have played an important role in shaping the aerospace industry. Join STEM in 30 and Anousheh Ansari, the first female private space explorer, as we take a look at the contributions of early women aviators, female astronauts and other pioneering women

Learn about air traffic controllers, who are in charge of keeping the skies orderly and safe and relaying information to pilots while they are in the air.

Humans first stepped onto the Moon 50 years ago and NASA has plans to head back! In this episode, hear from those involved with the Apollo program and learn about the science behind getting to the Moon. We will also explore the plans to head back to the Moon in the near future. This...

“That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” Astronaut Neil Armstrong spoke these famous words as he became the first person to walk on the Moon 50 years ago this July. His spacesuit, really a small spacecraft, allowed him to take this historic walk. Join STEM in 30 to learn...

Have you ever wondered what happens inside the eye of a hurricane? Find out what it's like and why it is important to study these storms from space, the ground, and in an airplane. Join STEM in 30 as they fly into a hurricane and learn all about these massive storms. Once you’ve had a...

Orion, Dragon, and Starliner. These are not the names of mythical creatures or far off vessels. They are the first line of commercial space vehicles ready to take humans to space in the near future. Will you get a ride? This episode will be available starting March 14, 2019. Once you’ve...

How do science, technology, engineering and math work in the real world? How can you learn about these subjects through artifacts at the National Air and Space Museum? Can you also learn about art or music? Find the answers to all of these questions and more on this episode of STEM in 30....