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National Air and Space Museum

Screen capture of Smithsonian Online Virtual Archives (SOVA) Overview page for the United States Women in Aviation 1940-1985 Research Materials collection in the National Air and Space Museum Archives.

So What’s Up with the SOVA? Accessing Digital Air and Space Collections on the Smithsonian Online Virtual Archives

Part of the fun of research is getting elbow deep into the original documents that make up the collections of the National Air and Space Museum Archives. But we also understand that it is difficult for many researchers to make in-person visits to the Archives at the Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. As an alternative, you can experience the NASM Archives (and other Smithsonian collections) anywhere through the Smithsonian Online Virtual Archives (SOVA)!

A low-lying topographic depression known as Margaritifer basin. (Sharon A. Wilson, John A. Grant, and Kevin K. Williams (2020), Geologic Map of Morava Valles and Margaritifer basin, Mars, MTM Quadrangles -10022 and -15022, 1:500,000 scale, USGS Scientific Investigations Map, in press.)

Geologic Maps: Where Science Meets Art

Geologic maps are used to locate natural resources, such as water or oil, or the best place to hunt for fossils, but they can also be eye catching works of art.

The waxing gibbous Moon as we viewed it on December 3, 2011.

The Moon: Before We Knew

Reading Mark Wick’s novel To Mars Via the Moon words motivated reflection on how our thinking of the Moon changed as real-life science and technology has evolved, in contrast to science ficton.

Ottumwa, Iowa, September 5, 1964: Piccard and crew just prior to an ascent in Raven Industries Model S-50 hot air balloon.

Donald Louis Piccard – Pioneer of Hot Air Ballooning

The world of sport ballooning lost one of its pioneers with the death of Don Piccard on September 14, 2020. He was involved in the renaissance of hot air ballooning and a true pioneer of the sport. All of us who wonder at the sight of a hot air balloon in the sky, are in his debt.

A. Roy Knabenshue's father, mother, and wife seen aloft over Chicago, Illinois, in the

Chauffeur of the Skies: A. Roy Knabenshue’s Passenger Registries

Even in the early days of 18th century ballooning, the novelty of leaving earth led many to seek thrills as passengers aloft, some even going so far as to get married in the air! As airships and airplanes joined balloons in the skies, flying continued to be a high ticket attraction.

General Douglas MacArthur making remarks at the surrender ceremony aboard the USS Missouri. Behind him are representatives of the major Allied powers. U.S. National Archives, Army Signal Corps Collection, USA C-2716.

Celebrating the End of the War

Aboard the battleship USS Missouri, representatives from the Empire of Japan met with those of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Soviet Union, China, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to sign the document that formally ended World War II.

The Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Surface System Test-Bed (SSTB) is nearly identical to the MER twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity that landed on Mars in 2004. Photo by Mark Avino, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (NASM2020-00501).

A Mars Rover Lands in Virginia

A new Mars rover has landed at the Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. The Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Surface System Test-Bed (SSTB) is nearly identical to the MER twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity that landed on Mars in 2004. What makes the SSTB different, however, is that it was designed for use on Earth.

Tattoo flash art by Owen Jensen, courtesy of the Lyle Tuttle Tattoo Art Collection.

Body Art During World War II: From the Lyle Tuttle Tattoo Art Collection

Step outside of the Air and Space Museum and into the Lyle Tuttle Tattoo Art Collection in San Francisco, California to explore the symbolism of tattoo body art during World War II.

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