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Adult visitors recline in chairs as an illustration of the constellations appear on the domed ceiling above them.

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National Air and Space Museum Receives $10 Million Gift From Northrop Grumman

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum received a $10 million donation from Northrop Grumman to support the transformation of the museum’s building in Washington, D.C. In honor of the gift, the museum’s planetarium will be renamed the Northrop Grumman Planetarium. This leadership support helps reach the $285 million campaign goal to completely renovate the museum’s flagship building.

Exterior view of the National Air and Space Museum under a bright sun, featuring its modern architecture with symmetrical design and unique metallic elements.

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National Air and Space Museum Announces Five New Galleries Will Open July 28

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum has announced the next phase of gallery openings at its flagship building in Washington, D.C. Five new exhibitions, the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater and the museum’s redesigned entrance on Jefferson Drive along the National Mall will open Monday, July 28. The project to renovate the entire museum began in 2018 and will culminate next year when the remaining galleries open July 1, 2026, the 50th anniversary of the museum in Washington and in time for the United States’ 250th anniversary.

Visitors crowd around historic aircraft outside of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. In the foreground is a large silver military plane, followed by a smaller yellow one.

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“Innovations in Flight” at Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Will Commemorate 80th Anniversary of World War II End

The National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center will host its annual “Innovations in Flight,” Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors will be able to view over 50 vintage, modern and commercial aircraft that will fly in for the day and be on display outside the museum. To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, this year’s event will include several World War II-era trainers, fighters and bombers as well as military reenactors. Additional aircraft anticipated to participate include WP-3 Hurricane Hunter from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an A400 Atlas and a variety of civilian aircraft. Free passes are required to view the outdoor display and can be reserved on the museum’s website beginning May 13 at 7 p.m.

Military aircraft in flight

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National Air and Space Museum To Host Annual Amelia Earhart Lecture May 21

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum will host its annual Amelia Earhart Lecture in Aviation History Wednesday, May 21, from 8–9 p.m. at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, and online. This year’s presenter is Cmdr. Porter Halyburton, a naval officer during the Vietnam War who will give a candid talk about his seven years as a prisoner of war. 

Margaret Hamilton

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National Air and Space Museum’s 2025 Michael Collins Trophy Awarded to Margaret Hamilton and the OSIRIS-REx Team

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum will award its 2025 Michael Collins Trophy to Margaret Hamilton for Lifetime Achievement and the OSIRIS-REx Team for Current Achievement. These annual awards will be presented to this year’s recipients at a ceremony March 27 at the museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.

A statue in a water feature stands in front of the National Air and Space Museum.

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National Air and Space Museum To Present “Air and Space After Hours: Innovating Galleries” Dec. 12

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum will offer an evening program exploring what it takes to create a museum exhibition and sharing stories behind the artifacts on display. “Air and Space After Hours: Innovating Galleries” will take place Thursday, Dec. 12, 6 to 8 p.m. at the museum’s flagship building in Washington, D.C. Free tickets are required and can be reserved on the museum’s website. This is the first program of the new Allan and Shelley Holt Innovations Series celebrating innovation at the museum. 

A woman lifts a small child dressed like the Wiggles to grab candy from a bucket

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National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center Hosts Annual “Air & Scare” Event Oct. 26

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum will host its annual “Air & Scare” family day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. This year’s event will feature candy stations and spooky activities for all ages inside the museum and outdoors. Attendees will be required to reserve free timed tickets for the outdoor portion of the event in advance. Tickets are not required for the indoor Air & Scare activities or for touring the exhibits.

A group of 10 women wearing flight suits pose in front of a fighter jet.

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Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Announces Fall Lectures at Its Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

This fall, the National Air and Space Museum will present three evening lectures at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, exploring the stories of women and people of color in aviation and spaceflight. The museum’s fall aviation lectures will highlight women who have broken boundaries in military aviation and the museum’s marquee space lecture will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Chandra X-ray Observatory. All lectures are free to the public and require advance registration. Each lecture will also be streamed live on YouTube.