Space / Video
The Ultimate Skywatching Guide for Every Season
Whether you’re a passionate astronomer or a beginner eager to explore the cosmos, join us as we deep-dive into seasonal skywatching. Gain valuable insights into identifying meteors, stars, and fascinating …
Inside the Epic Artemis Moon Missions
The Artemis program represents the pinnacle of NASA’s mind-boggling technological capabilities. Learn about the groundbreaking achievements and breathtaking lunar landscapes that await us in this new era of space exploration. …
The Space Launch System is the Most Powerful Rocket Ever Built
“We want to go far fast” says former astronaut and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, explaining that NASA’s return to the moon will require a rocket more powerful than the ones …
How a ‘Non-Hazardous’ NASA Mission Turned Deadly
In 1967, a horrific fire broke out during a routine pre-launch test for the Apollo 1 mission at Cape Kennedy, Florida. It would claim the lives of three NASA astronauts
How the Common Cold Affected the Crew of Apollo 7
Things were not going well aboard Apollo 7: The astronauts felt stressed by the confines of the command module, and to top it off, astronaut Wally Schirra developed a painful …
Apollo 13’s Intense Comms Blackout
A damaged Apollo 13 was about to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere amid a communications blackout. It would become the longest re-entry blackout in the history of the space program
A Moon Sample Reveals a Surprising Link to Earth
“Big Bertha” was one of the moon rocks brought back by the Apollo 14 crew for geological analysis. What it revealed stunned scientists
The Design of the Lunar Rover Was Mostly Guesswork
NASA began working on lunar vehicles in the early 1960s—but the project relied more on guesswork than engineering precision. After all, no one had any idea what being on the …
Five Kitchen Objects Inspired by Nasa
Did you know that some of the technologies we take for granted in our kitchens were actually developed by NASA? Here are five of the best, from water filters to …
The Riskiest Maneuver in the History of the Space Program
The success of the Apollo 8 mission hinged on a unique and terrifying maneuver: slowing the spacecraft enough to enter lunar orbit. Even the slightest mistake would have meant certain …
As part of Project Mercury, NASA prepared to send a chimpanzee, Ham, into space to test the effects of space on a living creature.
The Training Regimen of NASA’s First Astronauts
The first class of NASA astronauts, dubbed the ‘Mercury 7,’ were put through a series of rigorous tests to prepare them for space, from heat chambers to to simulated weightlessness. …
Scientists Reveal First-Ever Photograph of a Black Hole
After years of planning by over 200 international scientists, the data purported to show the first ever image of a black hole is ready. The team gathers for the big …
How One Picture Would Prove Black Holes Actually Exist
Many scientists believe that black holes make sense in the realm of theoretical physics, but couldn’t really exist in real life. Capturing an image of a black hole would change …
This Apollo 8 Astronaut Took the Famous “Earthrise” Photo
Vying with the Russians for space supremacy, the U.S. successfully launches Apollo 8. Once in orbit, astronaut William Anders takes one of the most legendary photographs of all time.
We’re All Made of Stardust. Here’s How.
13.8 billion years ago, the universe began with a big bang and the atoms it created would find their way into everything: from celestial stars to the human body.
Stephen Hawking’s Stark Warning for Humans to Leave Earth
In one of his final on-camera appearances, iconic physicist Stephen Hawking issued a warning to humanity about the existential threats we face and how our survival depends on colonizing another …
This Science Experiment Could Help Us Live on Another Planet
In 1991, eight people spent two years living in giant, sealed-off glass domes, deep in the Arizona desert. This project, known as Biosphere 2, could be an important case study …
Inside Look at the Mars Simulation Project in Utah
Billionaire Elon Musk has donated money to the Mars Society in Utah. Its purpose is to help scientists prepare for the incredibly hostile conditions on the Red Planet.
Richard Branson Speaks on Plan for Space Tourism
Billionaire Richard Branson has set up Virgin Galactic as part of his dream to conquer the final frontier. But it’s also a bet that could land him at the forefront …
The Moon Landing Was the Television Event of the Decade
On July 16, 1969, Americans filled highways, streets and homes to witness the launch of a rocket from the Kennedy Space Center: the legendary, moon-bound Apollo 11.
These Astronauts Drink Recycled Urine to Stay Hydrated
Astronauts themselves are important sources of water in outer space. With the help of a special centrifuge, their urine is distilled, then processed to provide clean drinking water.
How NASA Cut Costs With a New Kind of Spacecraft
With budgets for space exploration falling toward the end of the 1960s, NASA began to make plans for a new kind of reusable spacecraft to save money: the space shuttle.
Video: Space Archaeologist Sarah Parcak Uses Satellites to Uncover Ancient Egyptian Ruins
Sarah Parcak | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winner for History This tech-savvy researcher of our past uses satellites and other remote-sensing tools to discover and explore stunning new …
Video: Meet the Team of Scientists Who Discovered Gravitational Waves
Kip Thorne, Rainer Weiss, Barry Barish and Ronald Drever | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winners for Physical Sciences In February, physicists announced the first-ever detection of gravitational waves—a …
Is Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin the Future of Space Exploration?
Jeff Bezos | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winner for Technology The Princeton-educated Amazon founder, Washington Post owner and new-economy pioneer also helms an innovative spaceflight company, Blue Origin, …
Behold: The World’s Largest Radio Telescope
The Atacama Large Millimeter Array, located in the Atacama Desert, is the product of a 20-year global effort by Europe, North America, and East Asia. With its 66 antennas sitting …
ALMA Reveals Planets Born Earlier Than We Thought
In 2014, astronomer David Wilmer aimed the ALMA Array at a young star 450 light years away. What he found proved that planets formed billions of years earlier than what …
This Puerto Rican Telescope Was Built in a Massive Sinkhole
In 1958, the Pentagon wanted to build a 1,000-foot-long telescope for its ballistic missile program. They ended up building it inside a massive Puerto Rican sinkhole.
The 1960s Conspiracy That Inspired Spielberg
When policemen spotted a “flying saucer” in 1966, an official investigation declared it was an optical illusion created by swamp gas. But some say that’s just what the government wanted …
Ask Smithsonian: What’s Up With Saturn’s Rings?
Despite being just one minute long, this Ask Smithsonian video hosted by Eric Schulze is crammed full of strange things you never knew – but should – about Saturn’s rings. …
Three Kinds of Close Encounters
As the head of the US Air Force’s official UFO investigation, Dr. Hynek was supposed to use his classification system to debunk so-called “close encounters.” Instead, he became a true …
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