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. 

Showing 381 - 390 of 1759

Mars Ingenuity Helicopter, a small helicopter, on the Marian surface.

March 14, 2022

Up To Speed: Spring 2022

Story | Air & Space Quarterly

Meet Wally Funk and The Mars Ingenuity Team, the recipients of the Michael Collins Trophy. Soar to new heights with an air taxi eVTOL prototype and test a supersonic aircraft.

Black and white image of Maude Rose Rubens "Lores" Bonney sitting at the top of an aircraft.

March 11, 2022

“I am without identity”: Restoring the Names of Pioneering Women Aeronauts

Story | From the Archives

While our Museum archivists were in the process of updating the NASM Technical Reference Files, they noticed that some women were missing names, often identified by their husband's names. This blog explores how the full names of these women were restored, and re-visits their lives and careers.

Astronaut standing on crocheted Moon holding Pride flag, with text next to it that says QueerSpace

March 10, 2022

QueerSpace: We’re All Stories In The End

Story | QueerSpace

In science fiction, the possibilities are seemingly endless. Authors can literally rewrite a world in terms of gender, sexuality, and culture, making something that is more inclusive and often more interesting. We talk to bookseller Hannah Oliver Depp of Loyalty Books about the history of queer worldbuilding in sci-fi literature.

Curator sits inside an empty bay inside of Space Shuttle Discovery.

March 09, 2022

Being Discovery’s Curator

Story

What's it like being the curator for one of the most iconic artifacts in the country? Reflecting on her January 2022 visit inside Space Shuttle Discovery, Jennifer Levasseur writes about her first visit as its curator, and the personal connection she shares with the Shuttle.

Scan of article in magazine

March 04, 2022

Rodney the Smiling Steward

Story | QueerSpace

Although a majority of flight attendants in the 1930s were women, Pan Am and Eastern Air Lines exclusively hired men for the role. These male stewards, who made up one third of the flight attendants across the industry, were sometimes belittled as “interlopers in an already well-established female realm.”

Hubert Jackson, NASA Heroes and Sheroes, 2019, acrylic on canvas, 50” x 40”.

February 27, 2022

Hubert Jackson’s Tribute to Black Americans in Space

Story

Using an artistic technique dating back to the Renaissance era known as a “triangle” perspective, artist Hubert Jackson establishes a layered hierarchy to convey contributions made by Black women and men in the space program.

Astronaut standing on crocheted Moon holding Pride flag, with text next to it that says QueerSpace

February 24, 2022

QueerSpace: Fly the Friendly Skies

Story | QueerSpace

The first episode of our "QueerSpace" limited series spotlights the history and community built by male flight attendants.

Stephanie Wilson stands with her arms folded, wearing a blue jacket with many space mission patches.

February 23, 2022

Stephanie D. Wilson: On Her Way to the Moon?

Story

Stephanie Wilson is now one of 18 members of the Artemis astronaut team, a group of nine men and nine women from diverse backgrounds. Since NASA has announced its intent to send the first woman and the first person of color to the Moon, she is a strong candidate.

Black and white photograph of six Black men in flight gear (three in front and three in back) posing in front of an aircraft nose.

February 22, 2022

The Daily Life of the Tuskegee Airmen: The Lieutenant Rayner Collection

Story | From the Archives

Donated by Ahmed A. “Sammy” Rayner, Jr,  these images, paired with his remembrances of his time as a Tuskegee Airman, provide vivid examples of the daily lives of the 477th Bombardment Group and experiences as a Black officer.

John Glenn dons his silver Mercury pressure suit in preparation for launch.

February 20, 2022

The Myth of John Glenn’s Seven-Orbit Mission

Story

When John Glenn splashed down at the end of his planned three-orbit mission, he became a national hero because he was the first American to orbit the Earth. Celebrate the 60th anniversary of Glenn’s historic spaceflight by learning about the origin of the seven-orbit myth.