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 81 - 90 of 361

Applying Varnish to Flak-Bait Rudder

May 31, 2019

Preserving Flak-Bait: Saving Doped Fabric

Story | Inside the Conservation Lab

The Martin B-26B Marauder Flak-Bait, an iconic artifact of World War II is undergoing artifact treatment in the Museum’s Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar. In this first in a series of blogs about the conservation of the aircraft, we explore the preservation of the doped fabric on the rudder.

Filming in a Wind Tunnel

April 08, 2019

Start From Stupid (or How STEM in 30 Happens)

Story

Explore how a flight with the Hurricane Hunters, an experience in a 100 mph wind tunnel, and a trip to film with ABC News Chief Meteorologist Ginger Zee is shaped into an episode of our webcast series, STEM in 30.

Transporting the T-38 Talon

March 27, 2019

Going Subsonic: Moving the T-38 Talon

Story

Pioneering female pilot Jackie Cochran set eight world speed, altitude, and distance records in our Northrop T-38 Talon. In this blog, we talk to a member of our collections team about the process of moving the aircraft's fuselage from Maryland to Virginia in December 2018.

On December 13, 2018, Virgin Galactic successfully launched VSS Unity, the newest of the company’s class of SpaceShipTwo vehicles, on its first suborbital flight.

February 07, 2019

Virgin Galactic Rocket Motor Joins Air and Space Collection

Story

What is a hybrid rocket motor? What advantages does it have over conventional liquid and solid propellant rocket motors? These questions point to an exciting breakthrough that occurred on December 13, 2018, when Virgin Galactic successfully launched VSS Unity on its first suborbital flight.

Girl looking up at astronaut suit model at the National Air and Space Museum.

February 05, 2019

Together, We Ignite Tomorrow

Story

Join us in the Mission to Transform the National Air and Space Museum. Together, we will ignite tomorrow.

A mother and her children read about the moon rock display in the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall

January 29, 2019

Welcome Back to Air and Space

Story

As we reopen our doors to the public after the recent government shutdown, we are now in the full-swing our own new adventure—reimagining America’s favorite museum for the next generation of aviators, scientists, and astronauts.

Gene Cernan's Apollo 17 spacesuit being moved out of the exhibit case in the "Apollo to Moon" gallery

December 18, 2018

The Mechanics of Moving Apollo Spacesuits

Story

As the Museum kicks off its massive project to reimagine Air and Space, many of the objects in our collection will be moved from their current location on the National Mall. The first objects on that list were also some of the most iconic in our collection: Buzz Aldrin’s Apollo 11 and Gene Cernan’s Apollo 17 spacesuits.

Lockheed U-2 high-altitude photoreconnaissance airplane in Looking at Earth

November 29, 2018

Looking Back at "Looking at Earth"

Story

After 32 years, the gallery will close on December 3 as the Museum embarks on a years-long project to revitalize our infrastructure and transform our exhibitions. What better time to take a look back at the early days of the exhibit and how it came together?

Tight shot of the lunar spacesuit worn by Neil Armstrong on Apollo 11 mission showing the reflection in the face shield, taken by photographer Jim Preston. Close-up of Preston's reflection in the helmet.

October 19, 2018

Photographing Neil Armstrong’s Spacesuit

Story | Air and Space Photos

The National Air and Space Museum collection is full of objects that tell the history of air and space exploration. Supervising photographer Jim Preston reflects on one of his favorite objects to photograph—Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 spacesuit.

A biplane just barely above the ground with a person standing to the right of it.

September 24, 2018

Celebrating Air and Space's #IdeasThatDefy

Story

The National Air and Space Museum is full of ideas that defy. Ideas that defy any obstacle, ideas that defy our expectations, ideas that literally defy gravity. Follow us as we discover the remarkable, the audacious, the outrageous, the #IdeasThatDefy.