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 61 - 70 of 156

AirSpace, a podcast, logo

May 12, 2020

AirSpace Movie Club
Superman: The Movie

Story | AirSpace Podcast

Our at home movie mini series continues! Emily, Matt and Nick talk about the Man of Steel in his appearance in this 1978 classic.

Two slightly different sized cylinder prisms with aluminum wrapping the exterior and steel beams holding the object in the museum.

April 24, 2020

Telling Hubble's Story for 30 Years

Story

In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope, curator David DeVorkin takes you on a virtual tour of our Hubble artifacts.

cosmic dust and gas in columns

April 24, 2020

How Hubble Changed the Way We Picture Our Universe

Story

In this guest blog, Dr. Elizabeth Kessler explores the contributions of the Hubble Space Telescope and how it has changed the way we envision our universe.

earth and sun

February 27, 2020

The Science of Leap Year

Story

Almost everyone is familiar with the concept of leap year, but the reasoning behind it is a little complicated. Museum geologist Bob Craddock explores leap years in this new blog.

Image of sun

November 08, 2019

Transit of Mercury

Story

On Monday, November 11, 2019, one of my favorite celestial events occurs – a transit! Think of a transit as an “eclipse lite” – a planet will pass between Earth and the Sun, and we’ll be able to observe the planet’s shadow moving across the Sun. Here are six questions to ponder during this month’s transit of Mercury.

Wideshot of Zeiss projector in planetarium

November 04, 2019

Farewell to the Zeiss Planetarium Projector

Story

Since its opening, and until recent years, our Zeiss Model VIa optical planetarium projector has brought the wonder of the night sky to countless visitors.

Purple and pink logo of AirSpace

September 26, 2019

AirSpace Season 2|Ep.14
Survivor 

Story | AirSpace Podcast

In the final episode of season 2, Emily, Nick, and Matt discuss the implications of tardigrades on the Moon, and why scientists are working hard to ensure that microbes from Earth aren’t contaminating our search for life in the solar system. 

Purple and pink logo of AirSpace

July 11, 2019

AirSpace Season 2|Ep.9
Walking on the Moon Part 2

Story | AirSpace Podcast

In part two of Walking on the Moon, we’re talking about the important science still happening with Apollo Moon rocks here on Earth a half-century later. 

Nancy Grace Roman

December 28, 2018

Remembering Nancy Grace Roman, "Mother of Hubble"

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As the first Chief of Astronomy at NASA, Nancy Grace Roman opened the skies to humanity in new ways without ever leaving the ground.

Apollo 8’s trans-lunar injection, setting it on a trajectory to the Moon.

December 21, 2018

Photographing Apollo 8's Orbit Toward the Moon

Story

The moment of humankind's first voyage to the Moon and back was captured in a series of photos taken by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observing Station in Maui, Hawaii. They show the trans-lunar injection rocket burn which sent Apollo 8 hurtling out of Earth orbit toward the Moon on December 21, 1968–perhaps the only such images that exist.