Stories of daring, stories of technological feats, stories of prevailing against the odds ... these are the stories we tell at the National Air and Space Museum. Dive in to the stories below to discover, learn, and be inspired. 

Showing 1 - 10 of 26

August 23, 2022 By Air or Rail? Why Not Both! Story

In 1929, Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT) started passenger service between New York and Los Angeles using a combination of trains and planes.

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April 07, 2021 Philip Van Horn (P.V.H.) Weems: Renaissance Man Story | From the Archives

Philip Van Horn Weems became a world’s leading expert in navigational techniques for aviators by the late 1920s. So much so that aviation luminaries availed themselves of his navigational instruction. Read about his life and access some of the navigation-related artifacts and archival documents he donated to us.

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January 14, 2021 Bonus! AirSpace Presents NOVA Now Story | AirSpace Podcast

Satellites from NASA and private companies are making headlines. What’s their history and how might their future affect space and life here on Earth?

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December 24, 2020 Yes, NORAD Says There is a Santa Claus Story

How did a misdialed phone number lead to a holiday tradition.

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December 10, 2020 AirSpace Season 3|Ep.11
Blinded by the Light
Story | AirSpace Podcast

Most of us live in places that give us a less than ideal view of the stars because of light pollution from our cities and suburbs. But keeping our skies dark is important for so many reasons – for nocturnal animals, for science and astronomy, and for cultural traditions around the world.

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June 05, 2019 The Technology Behind D-Day's Moonlit Airborne Ops Story | 75th Anniversary of World War II

The D-Day invasion relied on paratroop and glider landings the day before -- in moonlit darkness. In this blog, we explore the key technologies used to locate drop zones and landing zones under cover of darkness.

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March 31, 2017 Women Guided the Way in the [Simulated] Sky During WWII Story

The U.S. Navy’s WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service) were a notable legacy of World War II’s influence on the evolving gender norms of the later 20th century.

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November 19, 2016 Your Captions: And You Thought You Could Hide Story

We are at the end of our “Caption This” series. Throughout, you’ve been a tried and true caption contributor. Our last photo features a smiling woman, a clear globe, and some dramatic lighting

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July 19, 2016 Charles Blair: Civilian Adventurer Turned Cold War Navigator Story

Today we celebrate the birthday of Charles F. Blair, an aviator made famous by his solo flight over the North Pole, whose real accomplishment is often overlooked.

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November 21, 2015 Remembering Robert Willard Farquhar Story | At the Museum

Known for devising innovative and intricate spacecraft trajectories, and for his whole-hearted dedication to robotic space exploration, Robert “Bob” Farquhar left a strong impression on the American space program. 

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