In July of 1969, the first human stepped on the surface of the Moon—a monumental feat for human spaceflight and humanity as a whole. Humans have been going to space since 1961, when cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin become the first human in space. Today human spaceflight continues with programs like the International Space Station. Maybe one day we will even send a human to the surface of another planet.

Four women in a space station forming a circular shape to fit in the small room.

In July of 1969, the first human stepped on the surface of the Moon—a monumental feat for human spaceflight and humanity as a whole. Humans have been going to space since 1961, when cosmonaut Yuri Gargarin become the first human in space. Today human spaceflight continues with programs like the International Space Station. Maybe one day we will even send a human to the surface of another planet.

Four women in a space station forming a circular shape to fit in the small room.

Stories

The Ilyushin Il-2 Was Known as the “Flying Tank” AirSpace Season 9 Bonus! Voting from a Station Far Far Away
Introducing RSS First Step Parachutes Not Required Toy Story

On demand

Flights of Fancy Story Time: "Three Friends and Mo Spacewalk" Presented Online Watch On Demand

Events

Learn more Story Time: Mae Among the Stars National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC Thursdays in February 2025 at 11:00 am Learn more Story Time: Mae Among the Stars National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC Thursdays in February 2025 at 11:00 am Learn more Story Time: Mae Among the Stars Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA Tuesdays and Thursdays in February 2025 at 11:00 am and 11:30 am

Exhibitions

Learn more Human Spaceflight Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA Learn more Rockets and Missiles Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA

Learning Resources

Astronaut Taste Test Learn why it's had to taste things in space. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2TKbtuYuEQ Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9 Human spaceflight, People, Science, Technology and Engineering

Student

educational-use-permitted

History of Space Food A very short history of how people eat and what they eat in space. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kivw3nnSt_8 Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8 Apollo program, Human spaceflight, Life sciences, Mercury program, People, Science, Spaceflight

Student

educational-use-permitted

Space Cookies How long does it take to bake a cookie in space? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-09rPjFZyfo Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8 Human spaceflight

Student

educational-use-permitted

Teacher Tips for Food on the Fly Teacher Tips to correspond with STEM in 30's Food on the Fly episode. https://s.si.edu/3qnJWhY Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9 Commercial aviation, Human spaceflight, Life sciences, People, Society and Culture

Teacher

educational-use-permitted

Design a Mars Rover_Explore on Your Own - Spanish In this Explore on Your Own activity, students will design a rover to explore the surface of Mars and determine if there are any signs of past life. https://s.si.edu/DesignaMarsRover_ExploreonYourOwn_es_us Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8 Commercial spaceflight, Human spaceflight, Science, Technology and Engineering, Spacecraft

Teacher

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Engineering Mars Spacecraft - Spanish This lesson presents characteristics of spacecraft models on Mars to see how well they meet design requirements and then presents a design challenge for students. https://s.si.edu/EngineeringMarsSpacecraft_es_us Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 6 Commercial spaceflight, Human spaceflight, Science, Spacecraft

Teacher

cc-by-nc

Publications

Learn more Space Craze Learn more Spaceflight in the Shuttle Era and Beyond: Redefining Humanity's Purpose in Space