National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

03/17/2023

The top of the morning to you!

This early 20th-century postcard is in our Archives' Evelyn Way Kendall Early Aviation and Balloon Collection.

03/17/2023

Pioneering aerospace engineer Mary Golda Ross was the first female engineer recruited to Lockheed's legendary Skunk Works and later worked with NASA on its comprehensive guide to space travel. Discover her story: s.si.edu/3sCrRcO

03/16/2023

Planning a trip to the Museum in DC this spring? Timed-entry passes for April 15 to May 31 will be available for reservation beginning tomorrow at 12 pm ET.

Learn more about our new exhibitions and how to reserve free passes: https://s.si.edu/42i0RjQ

03/16/2023

Gemini VIII astronauts made the world’s first space docking—today in 1966. It was quickly followed by the first life-threatening, in-flight emergency, in the short history of the United States' human spaceflight program. Read the details about Gemini VIII’s near-disaster on the blog: https://s.si.edu/2OvjzDP

03/15/2023

Apollo 12 and Skylab 3 astronaut Alan Bean was born on this day in 1932. A talented artist, he dedicated his later life to the art of painting his memories of Apollo, allowing us to see the Moon through his eyes: https://s.si.edu/3JgZjg3

03/15/2023

On this day in 1935, Wiley Post flew his Lockheed 5C Vega "Winnie Mae" from Burbank, California to Cleveland, Ohio, in 7 hours and 19 minutes. He accomplished this by flying at high altitudes in the jet stream. Learn more: https://s.si.edu/38Yhbex

03/14/2023

"My mantra is ‘Querer es poder.’ I believe everyone has the potential to do it. They just have to believe in themselves enough to actually do it."

Born to a military family in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Olga Custodio went on to become the first Latina US military pilot. She served in the United States Air Force (USAF) for 24 years, retiring in 2003 as a Lieutenant Colonel with over 11,000 hours of flight time logged. More: https://s.si.edu/426JF0R

03/14/2023

Advertising is everywhere, even in the sky! In the latest episode of our STEM in 30 educational webcast series, we're exploring aerial advertisement, from tow banners to skywriting and more. Watch now: https://s.si.edu/3letaPG

03/14/2023

EA-6B Prowlers served in nearly every significant military action since the type became operational in 1970. In 2019 the last Marine Prowler squadron, VMAQ-2, was formally deactivated. One of the last two Prowlers in service flew into Dulles Airport today in 2019 to join our collection. It is now on display at our Udvar-Hazy Center.

03/14/2023

On this day in 1969, command module "Gumdrop" splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean following the successful completion of the Apollo 9 mission. After splashdown, crew members Jim McDivitt, David Scott, and Rusty Schweickhart were flown to the recovery ship USS Guadalcanal.

03/13/2023

Today in 1781, British astronomer Sir William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus. This stunning picture was captured over 200 years later by Voyager 2.

03/12/2023

The trifecta of early spaceflight: Mercury astronaut Wally Schirra was the only person to fly in all three of the early US crewed spaceflight programs—Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. He was born on this day in 1923.

03/12/2023

On this day in 1944, the first prototype for the redesigned Ar 234 V9 flew for the first time. The Arado Ar 234B Blitz (Lightning) was the world's first operational jet bomber and reconnaissance aircraft: https://s.si.edu/3YGlQKj

03/11/2023

On this day in 1933, the U.S. Navy airship USS Macon was christened. Macon operated as a flying aircraft carrier deploying Curtiss F9C-2 Sparrowhawks during the early 1930s.

03/11/2023

“More than 50 years ago, a fire killed three Apollo astronauts. My grandfather was there." Read the full harrowing reflection on the Apollo 1 tragedy from our latest Air & Space Quarterly: https://s.si.edu/3l3Dp9r

03/11/2023

Do you ever look up at the night sky and wonder what you're seeing? We're here to help! Tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, join us for stargazing at our Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia (weather permitting). Learn more: https://s.si.edu/3JwIi44

03/10/2023

The contributions of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during the 1940s were officially recognized with the Congressional Gold Medal on this day in history in 2010. More on the legacy of the WASP: https://s.si.edu/2AAUJZc

03/10/2023

75 years ago today, NACA pilot Herb Hoover became the first civilian pilot—and second pilot ever—to break the sound barrier. He was flying Bell X-1 No. 2. More via NASA https://s.si.edu/3pRjppO

03/10/2023

On this day in history in 1971, NASA's TF-8A completed its first test flight of the Supercritical Wing (SCW). The SCW is flatter on top and rounder at the bottom when compared to a conventional wing and has a downward curve at the trailing edge. Learn how this changed flight: s.si.edu/2wMDjt5

03/09/2023

Discovery’s final mission completed.

On this day in 2011, Space Shuttle Discovery landed at Kennedy Space Center, completing STS-133, its 39th mission and final spaceflight.

Discovery has earned a place of honor in the collection of national treasures at our museum. The longest-serving orbiter, Discovery flew 39 times from 1984 through 2011—more missions than any of its sister ships—spending altogether 365 days in space. The Shuttle is currently at our Udvar-Hazy Center, in Chantilly, VA. 🚀

03/08/2023

Soar Together at Air and Space

Have you ever looked up at a message in the sky and had a few questions? Learn the science and techniques of skywriting and even create a message of your own this Saturday at the Udvar-Hazy Center: https://s.si.edu/3IW4Ycu

Sponsored by Northrop Grumman

03/08/2023

Happy International Women's Day! Let's go around the world and discover five inspiring women in aerospace history.

Read the blog now: https://s.si.edu/3HUaaek

03/07/2023

It took a lot of software engineering to get astronauts to the Moon. In this now-iconic photo, Margaret Hamilton, who led the Apollo flight software design, stands next to listings of the Apollo Guidance Computer source code: https://s.si.edu/2H8oZOX

03/07/2023

Today in 1942, the first class of African American pilots at the Tuskegee Army Flying School graduated and earned their wings. The Tuskegee Army Air Field would become the nucleus of the famed Tuskegee Airmen.

Pictured here are G.S. Roberts, B.O. Davis, C.H. DeBow, R.M. Long, Mac Ross, and L.R. Curtis. (Photo via the Library of Congress)

03/06/2023

Last flight. New record. On this day in 1990, our Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird entered our collection in style. On its final flight, it set a new speed record, flying from Los Angeles, California, to Washington, DC, in 1 hour, 4 minutes and 20 seconds, averaging 2,124 mph. After it arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport, the aircraft was turned over to the Smithsonian and is now at our Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia: https://s.si.edu/3iq1rVF

03/06/2023

The Supermarine Spitfire is a legend in British air history.

Along with the Hawker Hurricane, it successfully defended England against the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, and throughout World War II it saw service on every major front. In total, 20,351 Spitfires were built. On this day in 1936, the Supermarine Spitfire prototype K5054 made its maiden flight.

03/05/2023

“On. Set. Checked.”

The preflight checklist enabled the advancement of aviation technology by ensuring that, with proper protocols in place, pilots could safely fly the increasingly complex aircraft that sprang from the minds of engineers. Read more in the latest Air & Space Quarterly:

How an accident gave us the checklist, and safer flying.

03/05/2023

100 years ago today, the Sikorsky Aero Engineering Corporation was founded by Kyiv-born aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky. You can see a variety of Sikorsky aircraft at the Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia, including the Sikorsky YH-19, the Sikorsky JRS-1, the Sikorsky XR-4, and the Sikorsky HH-52A Seaguard.

03/05/2023

Before NASA, there was the NACA (the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics). It was founded during this week in history in 1915. Among many other things, the NACA operated a Full Scale Wind Tunnel used to test some of America’s most significant aircraft: https://s.si.edu/3hFbEOU

03/04/2023

What exactly are we looking at here? 🔎

This photo, taken on this day in 1979 by Voyager 1, is the first evidence of a ring around Jupiter. And no, those other lines aren't broken bobby pins, they're stars (the result of spacecraft motion during the 11 minute exposure).

03/03/2023

Harriet Quimby was the first American woman to earn a pilot's license and was one of the most popular early women aviators. She was also the first woman to fly solo across the English Channel. More on her accomplishments: https://s.si.edu/3MRYEUw

📷: Library of Congress

03/03/2023

On this day in 1969, Apollo 9 launched on a mission to test the Apollo lunar spacecraft in Earth orbit. It was the first crewed flight of the lunar module in space. The primary objectives were to demonstrate crew, space vehicle, and mission support facilities performance.

03/02/2023

Pioneer 10 launched on NASA's first mission to the outer planets of our solar system, today in 1972. The following year it became the first spacecraft to fly by Jupiter.

Pictured here is a Pioneer 10 prototype from our collection.

03/02/2023

On this day in 1969, the first Concorde supersonic transport, Concorde 001, made its maiden flight. The Concorde flew thousands of passengers across the Atlantic at twice the speed of sound for over 25 years. Designed and built by Aérospatiale of France and the British Aircraft Corporation, the graceful Concorde was a stunning technological achievement that could not overcome serious economic problems.

03/01/2023

On this day in 1912, Capt. Albert Berry made the first parachute jump from a powered airplane in the United States, from 1,500 ft. Read more in Smithsonian Magazine: https://s.si.edu/3psMAiD

03/01/2023

Over the centuries, artists have envisioned stunning possibilities of our futures in space, from living on distant worlds to constructing orbiting fuel depots. Read more on our visions of space stations in the latest Air & Space Quarterly: https://s.si.edu/3ZADqjP

📷: Robert McCall’s famous painting for "2001: A Space Odyssey"

03/01/2023

In 1984, Kathy Sullivan became the first American woman to spacewalk. Her EVA gloves from that spacewalk are in our collection.

A distinguished scientist, astronaut, and oceanographer, Sullivan later became the administrator of NOAA.

03/01/2023

Join us in DC and live on YouTube for the 2023 Exploring Space Lecture Series! We'll explore the realities of of living and working in space for years at a time — from Earth-based analogues to the ISS to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Learn more and register to attend: https://s.si.edu/3IB6TTA

02/28/2023

Benjamin O. Davis Sr. and Jr. both broke racial barriers in the U.S. military. Davis Sr. was the first Black general in the U.S. Army and Davis Jr. led the famed Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.

02/28/2023

200-mile-high plume erupting from Io's Tvashtar volcano

On this day in 2007, New Horizons took these photos of a 200-mile-high plume erupting from Io's Tvashtar volcano.

Io, a moon of Jupiter, is one of only a few planetary bodies in the solar system other than Earth known to exhibit active volcanism.