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The first flight, the first landing on the moon, the first jumbo jet—all these things have something in common. They are all feats of technology and engineering.

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Deep dives

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Astronaut Eugene Cernan dines aboard the Apollo 17 command module. Deep dive

Apollo Astronaut Life

Patent for Robert Goddard's Impoved Rocket Design Deep dive

Innovative People in Early Rocketry


A dozen or more sopwith camel airplanes lined up in a row on a field. Men can be seen around the airplanes in various states of preparation for flight. Deep dive

The Evolution of World War I Aircraft

Vanguard 1 Satellite Model Deep dive

Communications Satellites

Pilots wearing state of the art in high altitude reconnaissance equipment Deep dive

Military Reconnaissance

The Earth, brilliant blue with swirling white clouds, partly obscured by shadow, stands against a stark sky in this iconic photograph. Deep dive

Observing our Planet

Stories

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The pink AirSpace logo is overlaid on an image of partial Earth with a white rocket-like satellite and a silver round satellite orbiting in space Story

A Tale of Two Spy Satellites

A photo of the floor in the Milestones of Flight Hall at the National Air and Space Museum. In the floor is a design featuring the Museum's logo at its center, surrounded by a circle, with 15 spokes coming out of the circle. Some of the spokes are solid lines and some are dots and dashes. Story

Recalculating the Pulsar Map for the 21st Century

The AirSpace logo, along with the word "live!", is overlaid in white text over an image of the inside of a refrigerator with various foods Story

The Future of Cooking (and Eating) in Space

An irregular, potato-shaped moon is in the foreground. In the background, the curvature of a red planet (Mars) is visible, featuring a massive shield volcano. Story

Can a Japanese Spacecraft Unlock the Mystery of Mars' Twin Moons?

A grainy, green-tinted, circular view through a night vision scope shows a helicopter flying over a dark landscape at night. Story

After a Tragedy in 2002, Special Forces Soldiers Learned That Armed Drones Are a Combat Necessity

On demand

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Video

Let’s talk about the Artemis II SLS rocket!

  • April 01, 2026
Video

POV: You just watched astronauts launch on a mission to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years

  • April 01, 2026
Video

What's Wrong With This Rocket?

  • February 10, 2026
Video

From Janitor’s Kid to NASA Leader

  • February 01, 2026
Video

We Built Rocket Engines… Out of Pasta?!

  • February 01, 2026

From the Collection

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Full scale model of roving vehicle. Rectangular, white box set on steel frame with six wheels. On the front is the articulated robotic arm, as well as the main camera that is attached to a mast.

Model, Mars Science Laboratory, Mars Rover Curiosity

Object

F-1 Rocket Engine

Object
Cylindrical satellite covered with solar cell panels tilted at an angle, exposing four rod antennas attached at the base along with two cameras.

TIROS Meteorological Satellite

Object

Events

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Children's book cover with title Construction Site: Taking Flight! There is a cartoon drawing of a yellow construction vehicle with eyes looking up at a blue passenger airplane. In the distance is an airport, several different construction vehicles and a sunset sky of pink and blue. Event

Story Time: Construction Site: Taking Flight

  • Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays in June 2026 at 11:00 am
Children's book cover with title Construction Site: Taking Flight! There is a cartoon drawing of a yellow construction vehicle with eyes looking up at a blue passenger airplane. In the distance is an airport, several different construction vehicles and a sunset sky of pink and blue. Event

Story Time: Construction Site: Taking Flight

  • National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
  • Thursdays in June 2026 at 11:00 am
Children's book cover with title Construction Site: Taking Flight! There is a cartoon drawing of a yellow construction vehicle with eyes looking up at a blue passenger airplane. In the distance is an airport, several different construction vehicles and a sunset sky of pink and blue. Event

Story Time: Construction Site: Taking Flight

  • Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays in June 2026 at 11:00 am

Exhibitions

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Front view of an Ultraflight aircraft. The background of the image is black. Exhibition

Ultralight Aircraft

  • Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
  • On View Exhibition
A rendering of a museum exhibition that features object related to life in space. Exhibition

At Home in Space

  • National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
  • Upcoming Exhibition

Learning Resources

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Activity/Lab Video

Astronaut Taste Test

Learn why it's had to taste things in space.

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Grade Level

Grade 5

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Grade 6

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Grade 7

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Grade 8

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Grade 9

Topics
Human spaceflight, People, Science, and Technology and Engineering
Leader

Student

and

Teacher

Rights

educational-use-permitted

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2TKbtuYuEQ
Activity/Lab Document

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.

More Design a Mars Rover_Explore on Your Own - Spanish
Less Design a Mars Rover_Explore on Your Own - Spanish
Grade Level

Grade 6

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Grade 7

, and

Grade 8

Topics
Commercial spaceflight, Human spaceflight, Science, Technology and Engineering, and Spacecraft
Leader

Teacher

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Student

Rights

cc-by-nc

https://s.si.edu/DesignaMarsRover_ExploreonYourOwn_es_us
Activity/Lab Video

Food on the Fly - STEM in 30 - Season 10 - Episode 1

I need to eat, you need to eat - we all need to eat. In this episode we’ll explore how the simple act of eating, under certain circumstances, can become complicated.

More Food on the Fly - STEM in 30 - Season 10 - Episode 1
Less Food on the Fly - STEM in 30 - Season 10 - Episode 1
Grade Level

Grade 4

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Grade 5

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Grade 6

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Grade 7

Topics
General aviation, People, Science, Spaceflight, and Technology and Engineering
Leader

Other

,

Student

, and

Teacher

Rights

educational-use-permitted

https://airandspace.si.edu/multimedia-gallery/food-fly-stem-30-season-10-episode-1
Activity/Lab Video

My Path: "Every Team is Better with Diverse Viewpoints" Andrea Putteet

Sometimes when you are working as a team, you can perform miracles. Andrea Putteet

More My Path: "Every Team is Better with Diverse Viewpoints" Andrea Putteet
Less My Path: "Every Team is Better with Diverse Viewpoints" Andrea Putteet
Grade Level

Grade 5

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Grade 6

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Grade 7

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Grade 8

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Grade 9

Topics
Aircraft, Commercial aviation, Behind the scenes, General aviation, People, Technology and Engineering, and Women
Leader

Student

Rights

cc-by-nc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMsgUJ08UPc
Activity/Lab Video

My Path: "Take What You are Passionate About and Turn it Into a Career" Celena Dopart

Celena Dopart is a human systems factors engineer. Learn about her path into engineering, and what inspires her.

More My Path: "Take What You are Passionate About and Turn it Into a Career" Celena Dopart
Less My Path: "Take What You are Passionate About and Turn it Into a Career" Celena Dopart
Grade Level

Grade 5

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Grade 6

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Grade 7

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Grade 8

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Grade 9

Topics
Human spaceflight, People, Behind the scenes, Technology and Engineering, Spacecraft, and Women
Leader

Student

Rights

cc-by-nc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nArOJQI9EFI
Activity/Lab Video

My Path: "I Love Building Things" - Joe Wilding, Co-Founder of Boom Supersonic

Joe Wilding was the co-founder of Boom Supersonic. Learn about his path, and the future of supersonic flight.

More My Path: "I Love Building Things" - Joe Wilding, Co-Founder of Boom Supersonic
Less My Path: "I Love Building Things" - Joe Wilding, Co-Founder of Boom Supersonic
Grade Level

Grade 5

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Grade 6

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Grade 7

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Grade 8

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Grade 9

Topics
Aircraft, Aviation, Behind the scenes, Commercial aviation, People, Records and Firsts, Science, and Technology and Engineering
Leader

Student

Rights

cc-by-nc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdgRlBIfDD4

Publications

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Book Cover: Igor Sikorsky, The Russian Years Publication

Igor Sikorsky, The Russian Years

Cover Art: Encyclopedia of Aerospace Engineering Publication

Encyclopedia of Aerospace Engineering

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