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Air & Space Magazine

Before crashing into the moon, the Ranger spacecraft sent back images of the lunar surface 1000 times better than what could be obtained from telescopes on Earth.

A Smashing Success

How the Ranger probes’ moon crashes helped pave the way for Apollo.

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Radar Mapping the Moon

Unlike a photograph, radar provides its own illumination – the pulses sent to the surface are reflected, received back and converted into an image.

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Separated at Birth?

Cool heads think, and sometimes look, alike.

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Before Galileo?

An English eye through an English telescope.

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Gee Bee Whiz

Hard to believe it flies.

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Cities From the Sky

Sherman Fairchild, the photographer who transformed aviation

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Last of Its Kind

The last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is commissioned.

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Prime Crew

Four decades since a big announcement.

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Space Goals – One more time

It would appear that we are in the midst of yet another attempt to define the goals and objectives of our national space program.

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Nonstop Service

Filler ‘er up…again.

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Window Seat

Atlantis, the ultimate glass-bottom boat.

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Turbulence-free

Or, come lie with us.

In December 2005, an Aerospatiale Alouette III landing at Escalante National Monument in Utah suffered ground resonance that tore the helicopter apart in four seconds. All aboard survived.

How Things Work: Ground Resonance

When is a helicopter like a Patsy Cline song? When it falls to pieces.

A Christmas Story

It could only have been a gift from Santa.

Because France and Spain would not grant the United States overfly rights, the 1986 F-111 raid on Libya required a lengthy detour.

Above & Beyond: Take a Left at Portugal

Above & Beyond: Take a Left at Portugal

In the 1930s, Julian’s rival, John Robinson (at far right), founded a pilots’ association to promote aviation among African-Americans.

The Black Eagle of Harlem

The truth behind the tall tales of Hubert Fauntleroy Julian.

Among the locals helping the Wrights were Tom Beacham (second from right) with young son John and his dog Bounce.

Present at Creation

From five witnesses came a family tradition to honor the moment the airplane was born.

On a tour of the National Air and Space Museum, Secretary Wayne Clough (at left) and Director Jack Dailey pause in a gallery showcasing the Wright Flyer.

In the Museum: The Secretary’s First Impressions

The Secretary’s first impressions

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One More Second

The masters of time are about to give us a little extra. Use it wisely.

A Curtiss Jenny, de Havilland DH-4, and Boeing 40C stand in formation while a Sikorsky S-39 surveys the annual fly-in at altitude.

You’ve Got Mailplanes

Square-tail Stearmans, straight-wing Wacos, and Hisso Jennies top the roster of antique airplanes at a captivating grass strip in Iowa.

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