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 31 - 40 of 494

October 13, 2023 Franklin Chang-Díaz: From Immigrant to Innovator Story

As a physicist, engineer, entrepreneur, and astronaut, Franklin Chang-Díaz has made significant contributions to space exploration. Born in San José, Costa Rica, he developed a passion for science and space at an early age. He moved to the United States to continue his education and achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut and in 1980, NASA selected Chang-Díaz as an astronaut candidate, making him the first Latin American immigrant to become a NASA astronaut.

Read more
September 20, 2023 Aerobatic Pilot Patty Wagstaff Turned Her World Upside Down Story | Air & Space Quarterly

When an aerobatic pilot wanted to fly right up to the limit, she chose an aircraft that proved to be a model of instability 

Read more
September 20, 2023 First-Responder Rescue Truck From 9/11 Goes on Display at the National Air and Space Museum Story | Air & Space Quarterly

Foam 331's new display at the Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center honors first responders 

Read more
September 14, 2023 Space Boots and Cowboy Boots: Astronaut Danny Olivas Story

John D. “Danny” Olivas grew up in the border city of El Paso, Texas, across the Rio Grande from Mexico. Its population is now 81% Hispanic, the largest Hispanic population of any major city within the United States. Olivas and his extended family have been part of that vibrant community since his great-grandfather migrated from Mexico in 1894.

Read more
September 11, 2023 Foam 331—First Responder to the Nation’s Worst Aviation Crisis Story

Foam 331—one of two Oshkosh T-3000 foam-carrying rescue trucks arrived at the Pentagon shorty after American Airlines Flight 77 had impacted the site on September 11, 2001. The efforts of Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority firefighters and their foam trucks in conjunction with the other responding jurisdictions succeeded in suppressing the fire, limiting further loss of life and damage. Foam 331 is now on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

Read more
August 30, 2023 Guy Bluford: First African American in Space Story

Dr. Guy Bluford launched on the STS-8 mission on August 30, 1983, becoming the first Black American in space. Bluford served as a mission specialist and his jobs were to deploy an Indian communications-weather satellite, perform biomedical experiments, and test the orbiter’s 50-foot robotic arm.

Read more
August 24, 2023 AeroEspacial: Making Space Bustelo | Haciendo Bustelo espacial Story | AeroEspacial

In this episode of AeroEspacial, we're jumping into the past and present of Latino representation in the Star Wars universe.

 En este episodio de AeroEspacial, nos adentramos en el pasado y el presente de la representación latina en el universo de La Guerra de las galaxias.

Read more
August 10, 2023 AeroEspacial: El Dorado of Possibilities | El Dorado de posibilidades Story | AeroEspacial

For Latino Futurist artists, drawing on the past is key to creating futures that connect heritage, experience, and indigeneity to the present and future in constantly circling time.

Para los artistas futuristas latinos, recurrir al pasado es clave para crear futuros que conecten el legado, la experiencia y la indigenidad con el presente y el futuro en un constante círculo temporal.

Read more
July 27, 2023 AeroEspacial: From Puerto Rico With Love | Desde Puerto Rico con amor Story | AeroEspacial

The science done at Arecibo Observatory was and continues to be incredibly important, and having the observatory in Puerto Rico is a point of pride for locals.

a ciencia hecha en el Observatorio de Arecibo fue y continúa siendo increíblemente importante, y tener el Observatorio en Puerto Rico es un motivo de orgullo para los locales.

Read more
July 13, 2023 AeroEspacial: The Second Star to the Right | La segunda estrella a la derecha Story | AeroEspacial

In the early 1960s, thousands of unaccompanied children fled Cuba by plane, moving to the United States on  visa waivers from the U.S. government.

Son los principios de la década de 1960 en Cuba, miles de niños sin acompañante huyeron de Cuba en avión, mudándose a los Estados Unidos con exenciones de visa del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos. 

Read more