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 881 - 890 of 1765

An artist's illustration of the China’s Tiangong-1 space station

April 03, 2018

How Tiangong-1 Came Back to Earth

Story

China’s Tiangong-1 space station fell back down to Earth this weekend, but there was no need to duck and cover. Most of the space lab burned up during re-entry, before landing in the Pacific Ocean.

Arthur C. Clarke poses for a photo beneath a sign advertising the motion picture "2001: A Space Odyssey," May 16, 1968.

April 02, 2018

2001 Celebrates 50 Years

Story

The story behind the landmark 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, which premiered 50 years ago today. 

A blue and yellow disc-shaped galaxy.

April 01, 2018

Smithsonian Eyes Reboot for Classic Skate the Universe

Story

As the Museum prepares for its upcoming transformation, the Smithsonian is eyeing a remake of its iconic film Scott Hamilton Skates the Universe.

Pioneering women cryptologists Genevieve Grotjan (left) and Agnes Driscoll (right).

March 29, 2018

Pioneering Women in Cryptology

Story

A guest post from the National Cryptologic Museum shares the story of two pioneering women cryptologists.

Nose and propeller on Patty Wagstaff's Extra 260 hanging inverted in museum

March 27, 2018

The Aerobatics of the Extra 260

Story | Air and Space Photos

Have you ever seen an airplane perform an inverted ribbon cut? You can “see” it at the Museum in DC (and online) in the form of Patty Wagstaff’s Extra 260 aircraft.

Open House

March 26, 2018

Behind the Scenes at Our Open House

Story

See what goes on behind-the-scenes at the National Air and Space Museum’s annual Open House at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.

A Navy WAVE working on a US Navy Cryptanalytic Bombe

March 23, 2018

WWII Women Cracking the Code

Story

A guest post from the National Cryptologic Museum explores women code breakers' top-secret work during World War II.

View of the repair being made to the tear in the Beta cloth medical container by Conservation intern Meghann Kozak

March 22, 2018

Conserving Artifacts from Command Module Columbia

Story | Inside the Conservation Lab

How the Museum's conservation team treated an Apollo 11 artifact, a medical accessory kit stowed aboard the Command Module Columbia during the historic lunar mission.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden presents a commemorative NASA montage to Professor Stephen Hawking

March 16, 2018

Stephen Hawking, Explorer of the Universe

Story

Renowned theoretical physicist, explorer of the universe, and symbol of human fortitude and perseverance, Stephen William Hawking died on March 14 at the age of 76.

Programmer Melody Ho standing inside mission control at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab

March 15, 2018

Coding Brings Mars Data Down to Earth

Story

When NASA’s Curiosity rover uses its robotic arm to snap a selfie on the surface of Mars, how does that picture get back to Earth? It’s thanks to programmers like Melody Ho.