Skip to main content

Subscribe to Smithsonian magazine and get a FREE tote.

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.

Four astronauts (a white man and a black man on the left and a white woman and a white man on the right) in blue astronaut flight suits stand outside on grass with water behind them. The orange SLS rocket can be seen in the distance between them.

What is Artemis 2?

Soon, four astronauts will launch on a mission to the vicinity of the moon for the first time in over 50 years. The mission, called Artemis 2, is the second mission — and first crewed mission — of NASA’s Artemis program.

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.

A white man in his 30s sits in the cockpit of a World War II-era military airplane. He is smiling and wearing sunglasses and a ballcap.

On the Road in Oshkosh, Wisconsin

The Smithsonian offers a pop-up experience for visitors to the world's biggest airshow.

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.

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 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.

Photographed against a dark blue background is a studio image of a set of cream-colored ceramic dishware bearing a pattern of star-shapes in blue, yellow, and green. There are several pieces, including a platter, a gravy boat with a ladle, a creamer and s

This Space Age Tableware Is Now a Prized Collectible

A passion for space exploration influenced how one family set the dinner table

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.

Photographed against a black background is a robot in profile wearing a silver uniform and golden-colored helmet.

A Robot Just Might Be an Astronaut's Best Friend

When they needed a helping hand in orbit, astronauts could count on NASA’s reliable Robonaut.

A white man in his 30s stands in front of a restored biplane displayed on a polished concrete floor inside a museum. He is wearing glasses and a dark suit with a white shirt and burgundy tie.

A Beautiful Biplane Represents a Future That Never Was

The U.S. Navy once dreamed of floating airships that could launch clusters of tiny fighter airplanes.

A large hand-carved teakwood chest with scalloped edges and four round feet. The chest appears to be stained a rich reddish brown. The front panel on the chest has a bas-relief globe pattern flanked by a pair of airplane wings.

This Trophy Chest Belonged to Amelia Earhart

A husband's holiday present for his famous wife is now a museum artifact.

A white man in his early 70s stands inside a museum gallery. He is wearing glasses and smiling. Behind him, is the nose and forward fuselage of a Boeing 747 airplane. The 747 is painted in a red, gray, and white paint scheme.

How to Display a 747 in a Museum

Boeing's 747 is big, but not so big that the forward fuselage can't be part of a museum exhibit

Categories
Archive

Page 1 of 4