Smithsonian Collaborates With NASA Astronaut Victor Glover

Two Museums Will Help Tell Story of Glover’s Historic First Trip to the ISS

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum and National Museum of African American History and Culture will collaborate with NASA astronaut Victor Glover to help document his historic first trip to the International Space Station (ISS) through educational programming and digital content. Glover is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station Nov. 14 and will become the first Black astronaut to live on the ISS as part of a long-duration crew. The collaboration with Glover and NASA will allow the two museums to tell the story of his first trip to the ISS, and it will explore themes of teamwork, artistic expression and resilience.

The programming and digital content will include a live discussion with Glover from the ISS, an art program encouraging students to explore the importance of teamwork and share updates and stories from Glover’s mission online. The museums hope to welcome Glover for an in-person event after he returns from his mission and it is safe to do so.

The live virtual Q&A event will take place Dec. 3 via the National Air and Space Museum’s website and Facebook page. During the program, the museum will ask Glover questions submitted by students about the mission, his work in space and his career. Students can submit questions for Glover using NASMStudentQuestions@si.edu until Nov. 18.

Glover has also challenged students to create a piece of art that tells the story of teamwork. This art challenge will be explored later in December through a virtual program hosted by the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

During his six-month mission, the museums will continually share Glover’s photos from space and information about his work on the ISS. Students and families can find all of this information on the National Air and Space Museum’s website and periodically on the museums’ social media channels.

The National Air and Space Museum maintains the world’s largest and most significant collection of aviation and space artifacts. It operates two landmark facilities that, together, welcome approximately 8 million visitors a year. For more information about the museum, visit airandspace.si.edu, follow @airandspace on Twitter and Facebook and @airandspacemuseum on Instagram.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive cultural destination devoted exclusively to exploring, documenting and showcasing the African American story and its impact on American and world history. For more information about the museum, visit nmaahc.si.edu and follow @NMAAHC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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