CURRENT ISSUE
June/July 2021
Features
:focal(2707x1864:2708x1865)/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/69/7c/697c431f-c67b-4308-b2c7-f7fdaca34b82/09s_jj2021_u1a1322_live.jpg)
Jay Leno's Airplane Engine Collection
He keeps them under the hood.
/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/18/c8/18c89fe5-277a-4a3c-991c-f3766ba9ecdb/02d_jj2021_replacesd_dart_live.jpg)
Doomsday Mission
With the DART mission, scientists try to prepare for Earth’s worst catastrophe.
/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/c3/cc/c3cc8a53-7174-4dc0-9d6c-2019ccfc3ebc/crop_corsairs.jpg)
Spoiler Alert
A little piece of aluminum solved the WW2 fighter’s vicious behavior problem.
:focal(2139x1137:2140x1138)/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/d1/e0/d1e0c1a3-2a01-428d-9e49-426588911ed0/03c_jj2021_as15-86-11603_live.jpg)
First Car on the Moon
Before Apollo 15, astronauts could explore only as far as they could walk.
:focal(907x1787:908x1788)/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/53/bc/53bcb0c7-9d9c-42cd-8bc4-5e304e6f714f/05b_jj2021_billattoadstoolcropexitsign_live.jpg)
Accidental Air Force
You never know what you’ll find on—make that above—the shelves.
/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/9c/f9/9cf987ac-ece8-4bae-8f7d-b3f123ae02ec/15d_jj2021_rendering_live.jpg)
Exploring the Planets: Planetary Passports
The ultimate in travel experiences, coming soon to the National Air and Space Museum.
/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/77/2a/772afe00-9f0b-4dd0-b4d6-c800e96bfa47/15l_jj2021_trappist1systemcaltech_live.jpg)
A New Window on Exoplanets
A leading expert on planetary astronomy reflects on what the next generation of space telescopes might reveal.
:focal(2297x1128:2298x1129)/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/7e/61/7e615eec-083b-4c6e-9206-03a588a725bf/150_i_was_there_17a_jj2021_michaelcain51_live.jpg)
The Mystery of Christine
How my Navy squadron learned that gremlins are real.
Departments
Carrier Team Spirit
Pilots flying from a modern aircraft carrier are not alone. They’re part of a floating city.
Lessons From a Fatal Crash
The official verdict on the helicopter accident that took the lives of Kobe Bryant and seven other people.
The Perfect Crew
Who were the men and women aboard the space shuttle on that disastrous day?