Amy Stamm works in the Office of Communications at the National Air and Space Museum on media relations, marketing, speechwriting, and digital projects. Managing the museum's social media and editorial content, she writes and edits blogs, runs the Museum's social media platforms, oversees the museum's email newsletters, and leads other digital initiatives. Amy holds a Bachelor's in Strategic Communication from High Point University and a Master's in Public Relations and Corporate Communication from Georgetown University.
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum will host programming and offer a variety of resources and expertise to coincide with the landing of the Perseverance rover on Mars, Thursday, Feb. 18. The museum’s scientists are involved in a number of Mars research missions with NASA and will share their insights on this current endeavor. A variety of programming will be available for all ages beginning Thursday, Feb. 4, and special Perseverance-themed merchandise will go on sale for a limited time starting Thursday, Feb. 11.
Findings from a recently published paper by Smithsonian senior scientist Thomas R. Watters reveal that Mercury has managed to retain much more of its interior heat than previously thought. Images and data obtained by NASA’s Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft show that Mercury has experienced only a modest amount of global contraction. This is in contrast to other studies that cite large amounts of contraction, suggesting Mercury cooled more quickly. Mercury’s modest amount of global contraction suggests an evolutionary path for small rocky planets where interior heat is retained. “A case for limited global contraction of Mercury” was published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment—Nature.
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum welcomed the Blue Angels’ F/A-18C Hornet into the national collection. This is the first “Blue Angels” aircraft and the first F-18 the museum has acquired. The recently retired F/A-18C flew into Dulles, Nov. 18, in preparation for display at the museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA at a later date.
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 Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum will host “Air & Scare at Home” in lieu of its annual in-person Halloween event. This reformatted virtual “Air & Scare” will feature online downloadable activities, live digital programming and a virtual costume and pumpkin decorating contest for sweet prizes.
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum and Grammy award-winning musician and producer Diplo have released Under Ancient Skies across all major digital streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.