Uncrewed spaceflight
Before we sent a human to the Moon we sent uncrewed spacecraft to learn more about flying conditions in space, among other things. Today, we still use uncrewed spaceflight to carry out missions and research.
Jump to content:
Deep dives
On demand
From the Collection
Exhibitions
Exhibition
Learning Resources
Flights of Fancy Story Time: "Family of the Sun"
Family of the Sun, which tells the story of the planets in our solar system. After the story, do a craft to make a solar system playset.
Grade PK
,Grade K
,Grade 1
,Grade 2
, andGrade 3
Teacher
,Student
, andParent/Caregiver
cc-by-nc
Air and Space Live Chat: Exploring Mars with Astronaut Abby
Mars is getting a new resident! Mars rover Perseverance will land on the Red Planet this month. Celebrate the landing with a live chat all about Mars, featuring Abigail Harrison, aka Astronaut Abby.
Student
andTeacher
cc-by-nc
What’s New in Aerospace: Mars Perseverance Live Chat
Join National Air and Space Museum scientists as they answered questions about Perseverance’s landing on Mars.
Grade 3
,Grade 5
,Grade 7
,Grade 8
,Grade 9
,Grade 6
,Grade 10
,Grade 11
,Grade 12
,Grades 13-14
,Grades 15-16
,Grades 17-20
, andGrade 4
Student
,Teacher
,Parent/Caregiver
, andOther
cc-by-nc
What’s New in Aerospace: Demystifying Venus
Dr. Sukrit Ranjan talks about detecting phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus an what this might mean.
Grade 3
,Grade 5
,Grade 6
,Grade 7
,Grade 4
,Grade 8
,Grade 9
,Grade 10
,Grade 12
,Grades 13-14
,Grade 11
,Grades 15-16
, andGrades 17-20
Student
,Teacher
,Parent/Caregiver
, andOther
cc-by-nc
What’s New in Aerospace: Countdown to Insight: Landing on Mars (Mission to Mars)
Just before this historic landing join experts from NASA to discuss Insight’s landing, and the science that will go on after touchdown.
Grade 4
,Grade 5
,Grade 6
,Grade 3
,Grade 7
,Grade 9
,Grade 10
,Grades 17-20
,Grades 15-16
,Grades 13-14
,Grade 12
,Grade 11
, andGrade 8
Student
,Teacher
,Parent/Caregiver
, andOther
cc-by-nc
What’s New in Aerospace: Inside the First Epic Mission to Pluto (Alan Stern) or Chasing New Horizons
A conversation with New Horizons principal investigator Alan Stern and astrobiologist David Grinspoon about their new book, Chasing New Horizons: Inside the Epic First Mission to Pluto.
Grade 3
,Grades 15-16
,Grades 17-20
,Grades 13-14
,Grade 12
,Grade 11
,Grade 10
,Grade 9
,Grade 8
,Grade 7
,Grade 6
,Grade 5
, andGrade 4
Student
,Teacher
,Parent/Caregiver
, andOther
cc-by-nc