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. 

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Aircraft in restoration hangar

September 25, 2019

The Big Three

Story | Air and Space Photos

This summer, visitors had a unique opportunity to see the transformation of American commercial aviation on the floor of the Mary Engen Restoration Hangar: the Ford 5-AT Tri-Motor, the Boeing 247-D, and the Douglas DC-3

Michael Collins stands at podium

September 16, 2019

Looking Both Ways

Story

Not long after the successful Apollo 11 mission, its three crew members were invited to speak to Congress. In this guest blog, Apollo 11 command module pilot, and former director of the National Air and Space Museum, Michael Collins recalls those remarks.

Woman sits at control panel

September 12, 2019

Calculating Trajectories and Breaking Boundaries During Apollo

Story | Apollo 50

In the late 1960s, Poppy Northcutt was a return-to-Earth specialist with TRW, working on a contract with NASA on one of the most exciting adventures of the 20th century: humanity’s quest for the Moon. With computer programming skills and a degree in mathematics, she worked with her team at TRW on the development of the return-to-Earth program. And she became the first woman in Mission Control.

Purple and pink logo of AirSpace

September 12, 2019

AirSpace Season 2|Ep.13
Out of the Frying Pan 

Story | AirSpace Podcast

Emily, Matt, and Nick unpack story behind their new favorite space movie (yes, it’s even better than Armageddon!).

Top of red Wittman Special 20 "Buster" aircraft

September 06, 2019

The Many Lives of Buster the Air Racer

Story | Air and Space Photos

Since the earliest days of flight, air racing has been an exciting motorsports activity. We have in our collection many of the aircraft that made history by winning races and setting records, like Steve Wittman’s Special 20 Buster, which lived two lives in air racing and proved to be an inspiration for an entire class of air racers.

Seven men with an airplane

August 29, 2019

Back to School

Story | From the Archives

As the summer comes to an end, it’s time for many to go back to school.  Most students have mixed feelings of excitement and trepidation at the thought of returning. Imagine how the students at the earliest aviation schools felt!

AirSpace, a podcast, logo

August 23, 2019

AirSpace Season 2|Ep.12
Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Story | AirSpace Podcast

Today on the show, we tackle the meaning of life. Well… not really. But definitely matters of consequence. 

Inside of cockpit

August 15, 2019

Preserving Flak-Bait's Fabric Panels

Story | Inside the Conservation Lab

To the best of our knowledge, Flak-Bait is the only World War II bomber of its kind to retain the original insulating fabric panels lining the interior of the forward fuselage. To preserve the original fabric, we performed a number of innovative conservation treatments.

Purple and pink logo of AirSpace

August 08, 2019

AirSpace Season 2|Ep.11
What's He Building?

Story | AirSpace Podcast

Today we’re talking about a really cool project that brought together one former-Mythbuster, a couple of Smithsonian units, and makers across the country to reimagine an incredible piece of Apollo engineering.  

red car driving along parade route

July 26, 2019

Nothing Says Welcome Home like the Goodyear Blimp

Story | Apollo 50

On September 6, 1969, Neil Armstrong was welcomed home with a parade in his hometown of Wapakoneta, Ohio, with flags, banners, Bob Hope, and the Goodyear Blimp.