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 111 - 120 of 1759

An overall view of gray and yellow checkered P-51 Mustang aircraft, with “Willit Run?” painted on the side.

March 26, 2024

A Mustang at 22 Degrees: Hanging an Iconic Fighter

Story

The Museum's Preservation and Restoration Unit recently prepared the P-51D Mustang for display in the new and upcoming Jay I. Kislak World War II in the Air gallery. The Mustang needed to suspended dynamically from the ceiling as if it were in flight.

A fictional spaceship composed of a large central disk and three cylinders that run parallel.

March 20, 2024

To Boldly Restore the USS Enterprise Studio Model

Story | Air & Space Quarterly

Take a closer looks at details on the Star Trek starship Enterprise studio model from the original series, and learn more about the conservation process.  

Twenty-two hot air balloons fly at different altitudes against a bright blue sky.

March 20, 2024

A Polka-Dotted Sky

Story | Air & Space Quarterly

Every year, a valley in New Mexico becomes the launching ground for the largest hot air balloon event in the world. 

Adam Savage poses heroically in his spacesuit, a giant model of a hammerhead shark is suspended overhead. His face, wearing glasses, is illuminated behind the transparent plastic bubble that forms most of the helmet.

March 20, 2024

My Own Personal Spacesuit

Story | Air & Space Quarterly

When it comes to choosing a do-it-yourself project, Adam Savage doesn’t go for the easy stuff—he builds his own spacesuit.

A black-and-white portrait of Amelia Earhart standing on an airport tarmac, with her twin-propellered airplane behind her.

March 20, 2024

Lost and Found?

Story | Air & Space Quarterly

What’s new in aviation and space. The latest on the search for Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed 10-E Electra

A single-propeller fighter aircraft is suspended by wire from the ceiling of a museum. The airplane has a dark green fuselage, but the underside of the wing is white, with a bright red "rising sun" marking of the Japanese air force.

March 20, 2024

Smithsonian In Your Backyard - World War II Aircraft

Story | Air & Space Quarterly

Where to see rare and even one-of-a-kind World War II airplanes. Many are closer than you think.

A stunning panorama of the Martian desert with a twilight sky. The landscape appears light rust and dull blue and is covered with boulders. A hill can be seen on the right.

March 20, 2024

Red Rovers

Story | Air & Space Quarterly

For twenty years Mars Rovers and Orbiters have worked to unlock the secrets of the Red Planet. This excerpt from curator Matt Shindell's book For The Love of Mars tells the tale.

Left: An empty green spacesuit, with an orange interior peeking out through the top, has an oversized right shoulder that resembles a large accordian. Right: An empty light green spacesuit has black rubber material where a person's joints would be: shoulders, elbows, waist, and knees.

March 20, 2024

Suit Up!

Story | Air & Space Quarterly

The National Air and Space Museum has some 270 complete pressure-suits in its collection. Their evolution tells the broader story of NASA’s efforts to send humans into space.

A twin-engine, propeller-powered aircraft is painted yellow and has a flat disk-like shape. The aircraft is marked by U.S. military insignia (stars and bars) and is parked on a concrete ramp.

March 20, 2024

A War We Don’t Want to Forget

Story | Air & Space Quarterly

In World War II, military aviation came of age—leaving us with aeronautical masterpieces from both sides of the conflict.

A drone with a simple, spartan chassis has two helicopter blades, one mounted above the other.

March 20, 2024

The Little Copter That Could

Story | Air & Space Quarterly

The Ingenuity prototype will join other robotic explorers on display at the National Air and Space Museum.