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 91 - 100 of 1759

In the late afternoon sun, a blue military jet is being towed on a concrete ramp in front of a large hangar-shape building. A person stands to the left of the jet. There are puffy white clouds in the blue sky, and the jet casts long shadows on the ramp.

June 20, 2024

The Blue Hornet

Story | Air & Space Quarterly

An F/A-18C with a distinguished combat history makes a late-life career change.

An artist's renderign of a cavernous museum exhibit space with a dark ceiling illuminated by images of bright white stars and a spiral galaxy. On the floor of the gallery, numerous visitors wander past glass display cases filled with artifacts. At the far left, a male mannequin in period dress stands on a ladder to look through the replica of a vintage telescope.

June 20, 2024

Discovering our Universe

Story | Air & Space Quarterly

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

An illustration depicts a large planet orbiting a distant star, amid a cloud of dust and rocky debris.

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.

Three men sit under the shade of a massive airplane wing; one of the men is wearing an officer's hat. Two huge aircraft are parked in the background, both are painted black. Behind thems is a lush island landscape. The photo has been given a green tint.

June 20, 2024

Bombs, Beer, and Black Cats

Story | Air & Space Quarterly

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

A joyful pilot in a leather jacket and helmet sitting in the cockpit of a vintage aircraft, holding a microphone near their face.

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.

A vibrant hydrogen balloon with intricate blue and gold designs floats above a bustling outdoor event set against a cloudy sky. Below, several white tents are set up in a grassy park, with groups of people mingling and walking around.

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.

AirSpace, a podcast, logo

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.

Astronaut William Anders, wearing a white Apollo spacesuit,  adjusts his snoopy cap during preparations for the Apollo 8 mission.

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. 

Man holding a rocket that is the size of him in an interior facility.

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.

A man smiles at the camera. There is an American flag in the background.

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.