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 51 - 60 of 1718

June 20, 2024 Discovering our Universe Story | Air & Space Quarterly

A preview of the U.S. National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe gallery.

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June 20, 2024 Long-Distance Call Story | Air & Space Quarterly

Using some of the world’s largest radio telescopes to scan the stars for signals astronomers have been listening for signs of extraterrestrial life.

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June 20, 2024 Bombs, Beer, and Black Cats Story | Air & Space Quarterly

This 100-year-old Navy veteran flew PBYs in World War II.

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June 17, 2024 Remembering Mustang Ace Bud Anderson Story

During Bud Anderson's thirty-year career as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Forces and the U.S. Air Force that spanned World War II and the Cold War, he was a fighter pilot, a combat and operational commander, a test pilot, and the leader of flight test programs.

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June 12, 2024 Balloon Expert Reacts to the Bridgerton Runaway Balloon Scene Story

Just how accurate is the portrayal of lighter-than-air flight in the third season of Bridgerton? Ballooning curator Tom Paone provides historical context.

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June 11, 2024 AirSpace Season 9, Episode 3: Let's Talk about Sex Story | AirSpace Podcast

Sci-fi is full of giant ships full of humanity living and dying and reaching out to new places far far away. Usually, these are called generations ships. And they rely on well, generations.

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June 11, 2024 Through the Eyes of Bill Anders Story

On June 7, 2024, Gen. William A. Anders died at age 90. Bill Anders dedicated his life to aerospace, first as a pilot and then as an astronaut, and his life was filled with inspirational moments for us to reflect upon as we mourn his passing. 

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June 01, 2024 Rockoons: Rocket and Balloon Experiments Story

Rockoons—combinations of rockets and balloons—launched notable atmospheric experiments in the mid-20th century. Some rocket clubs and private companies are beginning to try using them again today.

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May 24, 2024 Ellison Shoji Onizuka: The First Asian American in Space Story

When NASA astronaut Ellison Onizuka rode Space Shuttle Discovery into space on shuttle mission STS-51-C in 1985, he made history on several counts. He was the first Asian American astronaut, the first astronaut of Japanese descent, the first person from Hawai‘i in space, and the first Buddhist in space. His second space flight occurred just a year later in 1986 when Space Shuttle Challenger launched on STS-51L.

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May 22, 2024 AirSpace Season 9, Episode 2: Tiny Jumper Story | AirSpace Podcast

Georgia "Tiny" Broadwick was 15 years old when she first jumped out of a hot air balloon with a parachute in 1908. Over the next 14 years she would make over 1,000 jumps, first out of balloons and then as the first woman to jump from an airplane.

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