Stories of daring, stories of technological feats, stories of prevailing against the odds ... these are the stories we tell at the National Air and Space Museum. Dive in to the stories below to discover, learn, and be inspired. 

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Alan Eustace, a record-holding altitude jumper, poses with members of the Museum's conservation staff on the side of Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 spacesuit in the Museum's conservation laboratory.

November 27, 2015

Comparing Alan Eustace’s Spacesuit with Neil Armstrong’s

Story | Inside the Conservation Lab

Our conservation team had the pleasure of hosting Alan Eustace, former Google executive, engineer, and stratospheric explorer, this month in the Emil Buehler Conservation Laboratory. Eustace and his StratEx team are well known for their three world records including one for the highest altitude jump at 41,422 meters (135,899 feet) in 2014. The adventurer was in town giving a lecture about his historic jump and to donate to the Museum the suit, life support, and balloon equipment module he used during the jump.

Welcome Center

November 24, 2015

Seven Tips for Visiting the Museum During the Holidays

Story | At the Museum

We’re gearing up for one of our busiest times of the year—the holidays! Our team of Visitor Services staff love to talk to visitors during this time. We enjoy learning where you’re visiting from and what made you add our Museum to your already impressively full itinerary. You can find us at the Welcome Center in blue vests, eager to hear your stories.

Robert W Farquhar, on the left, and James L Green, on the right, converse at a symposium.

November 21, 2015

Remembering Robert Willard Farquhar

Story | At the Museum

Known for devising innovative and intricate spacecraft trajectories, and for his whole-hearted dedication to robotic space exploration, Robert “Bob” Farquhar left a strong impression on the American space program. 

A group of men unload turkeys from a truck prior to the Northwestern Aeronautical Corporation's employee giveaway of holiday turkeys.

November 19, 2015

From the Archives: A Company Thanksgiving

Story | From the Archives

Many families have their own Thanksgiving traditions that they faithfully recreate each November—Grandma’s stuffing, Aunt Jean’s serving platter, homemade cranberry sauce, or an insistence upon the canned sauce with ridges. After the meal, it may be nap time or football time. But the most common tradition is cooking and eating a big, fat Thanksgiving turkey. The collections in the National Air and Space Museum Archives provide a cornucopia of images and information on the history of aviation and spaceflight, some with moments of Thanksgiving cheer.

November 17, 2015

The Tizard Mission – 75 Years of Anglo-American Technical Alliance

Story

The Allied Victory in World War II was one of cooperation, not just on the battlefield, but in the laboratory. Microwave radar, jet propulsion, gyroscopic gunsights, and even penicillin were key innovations critical to American military success.

Diagram from Apollo Handbook

November 12, 2015

Transcribing Apollo Stowage Lists With Help from Volunteers

Story

Apollo artifacts have begun to receive increased scrutiny in light of recent discussions about returning humans to the Moon and the upcoming 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo missions. What did astronauts of the 1960s and 1970s bring back from the Moon? What was left behind? And how can we verify the authenticity of any of those objects if they have been or will be recovered?

NASA launched the chimpanzee Ham on a suborbital flight in January 1961.

November 10, 2015

Mercury Primate Capsule and Ham the Astrochimp

Story | Under the Radar

On May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American in space. However, three months earlier NASA had launched “Number 65” on a mission that helped pave the way for Shephard’s momentous flight. Number 65 was a male chimpanzee born in 1957 in the French Cameroons in West Africa.

A woman helps President Barack Obama learn the parts of a telescope at an astronomy event held at the White House.

November 06, 2015

The Day I Helped President Obama Observe the Moon

Story

I’ve done a lot of “cool” things as an educator at this Museum: performed a solar system dance with Miss America, chatted with astronauts, and given people their first awe-inspiring views through a telescope. But I have to say, my most recent experience was truly out of this world. On Monday, October 19, 2015, I participated in the second  Astronomy Night at the White House. This event is designed to get youth excited about astronomy, space exploration, science, and engineering. 

Explainer Demonstrates EMU Spacesuit

November 02, 2015

Explainers Program Expands Students’ Experience

Story

A few weeks ago we made a huge announcement that our Explainers Program would be expanding. The exciting news made us ponder: What does it mean to be an Explainer? So we sat down with two of them to find out.

Mannequin Models Early Flight Mask

October 29, 2015

Halloween Horrors of the Air: 13 Terrifying Images of Aero Fashion

Story

From witches to winged demons, humanity has long harbored a horror of airborne denizens. Even when we ventured forth into the heavens without supernatural support, we sometimes adopted some truly terrifying attire.