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 701 - 710 of 1759

Neil Armstrong with X-15

July 23, 2019

Neil Armstrong and the X-15

Story | Apollo 50

Before Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon and before he flew on Gemini 8, he was a NASA test pilot. Noted for his engineering excellence and technical capability as a pilot, Armstrong became one of only 12 pilots to fly the ultimate experimental aircraft – the North American X-15.

voice recorder and tapes

July 22, 2019

Apollo Playlist Part 2: Music Inside Apollo, Musical Critique from Outside Apollo

Story | Apollo 50

In this blog celebrating the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, we explore how the astronauts listened to music during the mission, what was on their playlists, and musical critiques of the Apollo program.

piece of technology on yellow background

July 22, 2019

Innovation That Echoes for Eternity

Story | Apollo 50

In this guest blog from Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, Roy Avezedo reflects on Raytheon's role in the Apollo 11 mission and what comes next.

Two portraits with a cartoon of a parachute jump in between

July 21, 2019

The “First” Members of the Caterpillar Club

Story | From the Archives

Only two survived the crash of the Wingfoot Express—Henry Wacker, the chief mechanic, and John Boettner, the pilot.  They became known as members one and two of the Caterpillar Club, an organization formed in November 1922 consisting of people who had used parachutes to make an emergency jump.

handbag shaped like command module

July 20, 2019

Apollo Memorabilia: Command Module Handbag

Story | Apollo 50

As the Museum celebrates the anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, we also celebrate some of the unique pieces of memorabilia created to mark that human achievement. In addition to the pins, patches, buttons, medals, matchbooks, sweatshirts, and commemorative plates the Smithsonian holds in the national collection, this unique ladies handbag is one of my favorites.

LLRV

July 19, 2019

Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 Close Call

Story | Apollo 50

In this guest blog from Smithsonian Channel, we share the story of Neil Armstrong's Lunar Landing Research Vehicle crash in May 1968.

small scale metal version of lunar module with actual lunar module in background

July 18, 2019

Print Your Own (Version of a) Lunar Module

Story

Print your own version of the lunar module tactile model on display in the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall.

spacesuit in case

July 17, 2019

"One Small Step for Man" or "a Man"?

Story | Apollo 50

Spacesuit curator Cathleen Lewis explains Neil Armstrong's quote appears the way it does in the case of Neil Armstrong's spacesuit.

president standing behind podium

July 17, 2019

"We Choose to Go to the Moon" and Other Apollo Speeches

Story | Apollo 50

We take a look at the famous speeches that led to the first Moon landing, and one that thankfully never had to be delivered.

Conserving Neil Armstrong's Spacesuit

July 16, 2019

Conserving a Wearable Legacy

Story | Apollo 50

Before returning Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 spacesuit to display in time for the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, it underwent extensive conservation and a state-of-the-art display case and mannequin was designed to protect it while on display.