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National Air and Space Museum

A digital art illustration of the gold and black spacecraft firing its white thrusters to maneuver near a dark, rocky moon, with the reddish surface of Mars visible in the background.

Can a Japanese Spacecraft Unlock the Mystery of Mars' Twin Moons?

Searching for clues on Phobos and Deimos.

A vintage silver Ford Tri-Motor aircraft parked on a wet tarmac under a dramatic, cloudy sky at dusk. The plane features corrugated metal skin, three engines, and the "Ford" script logo in blue on the fuselage, all reflected in the water on the ground.

The Ford Motor Company Built Excellent Airplanes 100 Years Ago

The Tri-Motor reassured Americans it was safe to fly.

A black-and-white photo of four white women in their late 20s to early 30s walking on a military airfield. The women are wearing flightsuits, boots, and leather flight jackets. Behind the women is the forward fuselage of a World War II military bomber.

Resurrection of a Rare World War II Flight Jacket

Janice Christensen is remembered for her service during the war.

A twin-engine jet airliner painted in a livery of purple, red, and orange is parked on an airport ramp. The tail of the airline is marked with the word “Southwest.”

A Once-Shy Teenager Found His Salvation in Aviation

A new book explains the transformative power of flying.

Two people standing outdoors on a paved surface holding a long, silver, cigar-shaped airship drone that features the text "KELLUU" in large black letters along its side.

The New Age of Tiny Airships

The smallest blimps can do the jobs that conventional drones can’t.

A grainy, green-tinted, circular view through a night vision scope shows a helicopter flying over a dark landscape at night.

After a Tragedy in 2002, Special Forces Soldiers Learned That Armed Drones Are a Combat Necessity

Why the Predator is here to stay.

A 65-year-old man dressed in a blue suit poses in front of a military jet on a rain-soaked ramp.

Flying the F-15 Propelled Cesar Rodriguez to a Remarkable Combat Career

A retired fighter pilot watches his jet roar through the sky one last time.

A photo illustration of a three-quarter view of a sliver aircraft with blue wings with blueprint in the background.

The Quest to Replicate the Splendor of the H-1 Racer

The aeronautical vision of Howard Hughes continues to beguile us.

A photo collage consists of three black-and-white images taken in World War II: an airplane flying at high altitude, a man sitting inside the cabin of a bomber, and a large-dish ground radar.

Fred Whipple Figured Out How to Hide Airplanes From Enemy Radar

How chaff was invented in World War II.

An upward-looking shot shows a dark-colored, single-engine Stinson Reliant monoplane with red markings on its wing, suspended indoors from the ceiling of a multi-story building with a glass atrium roof.

See These Pioneering Air- and Spacecraft in Your Town

Rare Smithsonian artifacts are on display at museums across the country.

A black-and-white historical photograph from circa 1931 shows Albert Einstein with Edwin Hubble and other astronomers standing on a walkway in front of the large dome of the Mount Wilson Observatory.

Who Is the Man Who Discovered the Universe?

A century ago, Edwin Hubble began the race to the edge of the cosmos

A white woman in her 30s sits on the launchpad, with the space shuttle (configured for launch) behind her. She has long brown hair and is looking to the side.

A New Book Explains the Delay in Hiring Women as Astronauts

Find out how NASA’s astronaut selection process has evolved.

Two aluminum cans are photographed against a dark background. One can has a red, white, and blue logo and a white plastic cap. The other can has a red and white logo.

The World Is Still Waiting for the Great Space Cola

Being in orbit is great. Not so much if you want a carbonated beverage

A close-up, head-on view of the nose and cockpit section of a gray U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender aircraft parked in an aircraft boneyard, with mountains in the distant background.

Air Crews Remember the Reliable KC-10 With Affection

After decades of service, a legendary tanker says farewell.

A white spacecraft against a black background. The fuselage is spangled with dark blue stars and black circles. A large wing is swiveled up away from the fuselage. The tail of the spacecraft is marked by this identifying number: N328KF.

A Triumphant Test Vehicle Is Celebrated in a New Gallery

SpaceShipOne didn't need NASA to get to space.

A white man in his mid-50s stands on a mezzanine overlooking several military jet airplanes parked on the concrete floor of a large hangar. The man is smiling and wearing a dark gray suit, blue shirt, and tie.

How a Military Veteran Became a Museum Professional

A retired airfield manager finds his second act at the Smithsonian.

Inside a large hangar filled with natural light, three white people maneuver a small red, white, and blue airplane into its display space. At least eight aircraft are suspended from the hangar's ceiling.

How to Build an Airplane in Seven Days

Aircraft manufacturing doesn't have to be a commercial activity.

A wood and fabric World War I-era Curtis JN-4D aircraft is on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It has tan wings, and a brown and blue fuselage.

The Best Wood for World War I Airplanes

To manufacture thousands of airplanes for its World War I allies, the United States would fell acres of spruce.

Black-and-white image of a white man in his early 50s. He is bald and has a mustache. Wearing a white lab coat, he is sitting at a work table supporting a large metal cylinder.

Robert Goddard Was All Business in Launching His Rocket Career

The inventor's handmade tools are now museum artifacts.

Photo illustration of 1950s atomic age photos including a prop aircraft cutaway diagram, a man in a suit and tie, an engineer with an engine, and an atomic-themed toy kit.

The World Wasn't Ready for Nuclear-Powered Bombers

The dangers of using atomic energy to operate military aircraft.

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