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 151

November 14, 2024 What Makes a Moon a Moon? Story

A moon is a planetary body that goes around another planetary body. Usually, this is one or more moons going around a planet, but it doesn’t have to be a planet. In Star Wars, the Death Star is not a moon because it isn’t a naturally occurring satellite: the International Space Station, the Juno spacecraft orbiting Jupiter, or any of the telecommunications satellites we rely on in low Earth orbit are satellites, but are not moons.

Read more
October 08, 2024 The Planets in Our Solar System – A Timeline Story

Humankind has known about them for thousands of years. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are all visible in the night sky with the unaided eye. As such, these planets have been known for thousands of years and there is no one person who can be credited with discovering these planets. These planets appear as bright objects that do not shimmer, like stars do. 

Read more
September 26, 2024 AirSpace Season 9 Episode 10: Movie Mini: Contact Story | AirSpace Podcast

What if there are intelligent lifeforms elsewhere in the universe? And what if all we need to do to find them is to listen to the right radio frequency at the right time?

Read more
September 23, 2024 A Breath of Fresh Air Story | Air & Space Quarterly

Recent discoveries and news in aviation and space. 

Read more
September 23, 2024 X-Ray Vision Story | Air & Space Quarterly

In its operation for over 25 years, NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory has changed our understanding of the universe. 

Read more
June 20, 2024 Discovering our Universe Story | Air & Space Quarterly

A preview of the U.S. National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe gallery.

Read more
June 20, 2024 Long-Distance Call Story | Air & Space Quarterly

Using some of the world’s largest radio telescopes to scan the stars for signals astronomers have been listening for signs of extraterrestrial life.

Read more
March 20, 2024 Lost and Found? Story | Air & Space Quarterly

What’s new in aviation and space. The latest on the search for Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed 10-E Electra

Read more
March 20, 2024 Red Rovers Story | Air & Space Quarterly

For twenty years Mars Rovers and Orbiters have worked to unlock the secrets of the Red Planet. This excerpt from curator Matt Shindell's book For The Love of Mars tells the tale.

Read more
March 20, 2024 The Little Copter That Could Story | Air & Space Quarterly

The Ingenuity prototype will join other robotic explorers on display at the National Air and Space Museum.

Read more