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 11 - 20 of 77

July 05, 2023 Preserving Launch Infrastructure Story

Launch vehicles require a vast ground-based support system, which is an important part of the stories told at the National Air and Space Museum. Collecting these objects is challenging due to their size and reuse in subsequent programs. Learn more about these artifacts and how Air and Space preserves their ongoing histories.

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June 17, 2023 The Caretaker Story | Air & Space Quarterly

A conversation with aerospace engineer Dennis Jenkins who works with the space shuttles, relying on his expertise in orbiter construction to ensure their maintenance as museum artifacts. 

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June 05, 2023 Up to Speed Story | Air & Space Quarterly

The latest news in aviation and space.

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February 16, 2023 Charles Bolden: Pilot, Astronaut, and NASA Administrator Story

Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden was NASA's first African American Administrator. He also served in the military and logged over 680 hours in space.

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February 01, 2023 Memories: 20 Years Since the Columbia STS-107 Tragedy Story

Museum curator emerita Valerie Neal reflects and shares her memories of Space Shuttle Columbia's disaster on the 20th anniversary of STS-107.

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February 01, 2023 Kalpana Chawla: The First South Asian American Woman in Space Story

Chawla made history as the first Indian woman, and the first South Asian American woman, to fly in space. Discover her story.

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December 21, 2022 Career Keepsakes Story | Air & Space Quarterly

The checklists Sally Ride included in her personal papers help tell the story of her remarkable life.

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December 16, 2022 Why Has It Been 50 Years Since Humans Went to the Moon? Story

When the Apollo 17 astronauts splashed down in the Pacific Ocean 50 years ago, they were the last humans to visit the Moon. NASA’s Artemis program is set to return humans to the Moon, but not for two to three years from now. Why has it taken more than five decades to send humans back to the Moon?

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September 21, 2022 Role Model Story | Air & Space Quarterly

Eileen M. Collins, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, was the first woman to be the pilot on a NASA space shuttle flight. She recently spoke with Air & Space Quarterly senior editor Diane Tedeschi.

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August 12, 2022 Seeing Earth Through Astronaut Eyes Story

Curator Jennier Levasseur explores how astronauts have looked down at Earth during missions ranging from Apollo to the International Space Station expeditions.

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