The National Air and Space Museum will host the next GE Aviation Lecture Oct. 10. “Surprising Roles for Drones” will explore the ways organizations are using drones to save lives and preserve the environment through judicious use of new technology. Speakers include John Petersen of Air Shepherd, Will Hetzler of Zipline, and Sharon Rossmark of Women & Drones. The lecture will be presented at the museum in Washington, D.C and online at 7:30 p.m.

The National Air and Space Museum will begin its major renovation of the building on the National Mall before the end of the year. The revitalization of the building’s exterior and infrastructure, and the transformation of all 23 exhibitions and presentation spaces, will take approximately seven years.

The National Air and Space Museum will host “Dreams Soar: Inspiring the Next Generation of STEM and Aviation Professionals” Sept. 26, featuring Shaesta Waiz, the youngest woman to circumnavigate the globe solo in a single-engine aircraft. This GE Aviation Lecture will celebrate inspiration in aeronautics and is tailored for a young audience. It will be presented at 7:30 p.m. at the museum in Washington, D.C., and online.

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum has announced plans to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo missions and help lead the national celebration of the first moon landing July 20, 1969. By sharing the national collection and expertise of staff, the museum will spark conversations exploring the legacy of Neil Armstrong’s first small step and contemplating the next giant leap.

The National Air and Space Museum and Google Arts & Culture are celebrating the anniversary of Space Shuttle Discovery’s first launch, Aug. 30, 1984, by launching artifacts, exhibits and tours into the virtual world. Now, more than 200 space shuttle artifacts, several digital exhibitions, virtual tours and a 360-degree video inside Discovery with astronauts Kathryn Sullivan and Charles Bolden can be viewed online on Google Arts & Culture.

The National Air and Space Museum will receive Sean D. Tucker’s Oracle Challenger III high-performance aircraft for the future “We All Fly” exhibition. The museum has received a $10 million gift from the Thomas W. Haas Foundation for construction of the gallery, which will be named the “Thomas W. Haas We All Fly” gallery in recognition of the foundation’s gift. The Oracle Challenger III will be displayed at the entrance to the gallery, the first exhibition at the museum in more than four decades to be dedicated exclusively to general aviation.

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum will present “Mars Day!,” its annual tribute to the Red Planet Friday, July 20, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the museum on the National Mall. This is the one time of year the museum’s scientists from its Center for Earth and Planetary Studies bring their work to the museum galleries and interact with visitors, discussing their research and their work on NASA missions.

The National Air and Space Museum will host “Asteroid Day: Defending Planet Earth” June 30 at the museum in Washington, D.C., and online. A panel of asteroid experts will discuss the threats asteroids pose and how to protect the Earth from the danger they may cause. This is part of the global “Asteroid Day” event, marking the 110th anniversary of the largest impact-related incident in modern history when, June 30, 1908, an asteroid caused a massive air blast that flattened thousands of square miles in Siberia.

The National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, will show free outdoor movies June 23 through Aug. 25. This unique experience will give visitors and locals alike a chance to watch Hollywood favorites under the stars on the Udvar-Hazy Center’s outdoor airplane ramp. Each of the aviation- and space-themed films will begin at dusk; doors will open at 8 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. Films may be canceled due to inclement weather.

The National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va., will host family-friendly activities throughout the summer to meet every staycationer’s needs. Special themed events and family days are scheduled, including the popular “Innovations in Flight Family Day and Aviation Display,” which will return June 16, Solstice Saturday and “STEAM Family Day.” Free concerts will run May through August in the Space Hangar.