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    • Robotic characters such as R2D2 from Star Wars or the cyborg Daleks from Doctor Who are frequently featured in science fiction. However, robotics are also an important aspect of space exploration in real life. 
    Aviation
  • Aviation
  • Aircraft
  • Balloons
  • Airships
  • Ultralights
  • Helicopters
  • Vertical flight
  • General aviation
  • Commercial aviation
  • Sports aviation
  • Military aviation
  • Early flight
  • Interwar aviation
    • Spaceflight
  • Spaceflight
  • Spacecraft
  • Human spaceflight
  • Mercury program
  • Gemini program
  • Apollo program
  • Space stations
  • Space Shuttle program
  • Commercial spaceflight
  • Uncrewed spaceflight
  • Artemis program
    • Astronomy
  • Astronomy
  • Telescopes
  • Stars
  • Sun
  • Solar System
  • Moon (Earth)
  • Small solar system bodies
  • Dwarf planets
  • Exoplanets
    • Behind the scenes
  • Behind the scenes
    • People
  • People
  • African American or Black people
  • Asian American or Asian people
  • Latino people
  • LGBTQ+ people
  • Native American or Indigenous peoples
  • Pacific Islander people
  • People with disabilities
  • Women
    • Records and Firsts
  • Records and Firsts
    • Science
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  • Life sciences
  • Physical science
    • Society and Culture
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  • Art
  • Science fiction
    • Technology and Engineering
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  • Navigation
  • Reconnaissance
  • Satellites
  • Robotics
  • Drones
  • Rockets
  • Missiles
    • War and Conflict
  • War and Conflict
  • Weapons
  • World War I
  • World War II
  • Cold War
  • Korean War
  • Vietnam War
  • Gulf War
  • Iraq War
  • Afghanistan War

    • Robotic characters such as R2D2 from Star Wars or the cyborg Daleks from Doctor Who are frequently featured in science fiction. However, robotics are also an important aspect of space exploration in real life. 
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    • Deep dives See all Deep dives
    Perseverance and Ingenuity
    Stories See all Stories
    Red Rovers March 20, 2024 The Little Copter That Could March 20, 2024 Flying the Martian Skies December 14, 2023 AirSpace Season 8, Episode 6: These Are the Droids We’re Working With December 11, 2023 AirSpace Season 7, Ep. 6: Drops From Jupiter February 23, 2023
    Exhibitions See all Exhibitions
    Learn more Destination Moon National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC Learn more Kenneth C. Griffin
    Exploring the Planets Gallery     National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
    Learning Resources See all Learning Resources
    My Path: Brandon Jones, Aerospace Engineer How does backpacking help you as an aerospace engineer? Find out in this edition of My Path. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66jVKXU47L0 Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9 Aircraft, Aviation, Behind the scenes, Commercial aviation, Drones, General aviation, People, Robotics, Science, Technology and Engineering

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         My Path: Inspired by a WASP, Alex Blake - Analysis & Test Engineer at Wing Learn how Alex Blake, an Analysis and Test Engineer at Wing was inspired by one of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII and went on to become an engineer at Wing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p89zfgatN0Q Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9 Aircraft, Behind the scenes, Commercial aviation, Drones, General aviation, Human spaceflight, People, Robotics, Technology and Engineering, Women

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         My Path: America's Innovator, Dean Kamen Dean Kamen talks about the process of innovation and invention. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvr1YOsHHT0 Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9 Technology and Engineering, Robotics, People, Behind the scenes

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         STEM in 30: Robotics: First There Were Humans, Then There Was Machine Join STEM in 30 to see the FIRST robots in action and learn how robots are used throughout the aerospace industry https://youtu.be/V3FWBL0HU5s Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8 Technology and Engineering, Robotics

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         Flights of Fancy Story Time: "Clean Up This Space" The friends are inspired while cleaning their rooms to return to their fantasy space story and imagine how their robot and alien characters could clean up space junk. https://youtu.be/k5v34wX84r8 Grade PK, Grade K, Grade 1, Grade 2 Astronomy, Robotics, Science fiction, Technology and Engineering, Spaceflight

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         This One Time: Dean Kamen, Founder of FIRST, Flying the B–2 Stealth Bomber Dean Kamen is most well known for founding FIRST Robotics Competition, but he is also a pilot and this one time, he got to fly the stealth bomber. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE67emCWDG8&list=PL6RlkQnoCx_XFR-UsQFhIqfz2anz2xc1_ Grade 12, Grade 11, Grade 10, Grade 9, Grade 8, Grade 7, Grade 6, Grade 5, Grade 4, Grade 3 People, Robotics

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    Publications See all Publications
    Learn more Spaceflight: A Concise History Learn more Robots in Space: Technology, Evolution, and Interplanetary Travel
    Explore other subtopics Missiles Navigation Reconnaissance Robotics Rockets Satellites Drones