The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum maintains the world's largest and most significant collection of aviation and space artifacts, encompassing all aspects of human flight. It operates two landmark facilities that, together, welcome more than eight million visitors a year.

Discovery by the Numbers. The longest serving orbiter, Discovery has some impressive statistics.Discovery flew every type of mission the orbiters were intended to carry out. Its crews made major contributions to history through these missions including: Deploying and servicing the Hubble Space Telescope

Visit us in Washington, DC and Chantilly, VA to explore hundreds of the world’s most significant objects in aviation and space history. Free timed-entry passes are required for the Museum in DC.

Twin-engine, two-seat, supersonic strategic reconnaissance aircraft; airframe constructed largely of titanium and its alloys; vertical tail fins are constructed of a composite (laminated plastic-type material) to reduce radar cross-section; Pratt and Whitney J58 (JT11D-20B) turbo

After four days traveling to the Moon, the Lunar Module Eagle, carrying Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon.. Neil Armstrong exited the spacecraft and became the first human to walk on the moon. As an estimated 650 million people watched, Armstrong proclaimed "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Visit us in Washington, DC and Chantilly, VA to explore hundreds of the world’s most significant objects in aviation and space history. Free timed-entry passes are required for the Museum in DC.

The Museum's collection holds a variety of different airplanes which help tell the story of flight. Our collection of commercial aircraft, such as the well-known Boeing 747, help tell the history of America by air.

Aug 23, 2023 · In 1961, President John Kennedy called on the nation to send a man to the Moon. In 1969, the United States did just that. Today, many are familiar with the story of Neil Armstrong’s first few steps on the Moon (cue the “That’s one small step...” quote), but have you ever questioned why we invested so much time, effort, and national attention in getting there?

Mar 6, 2023 · The Space Race grew out of a conflict known as the Cold War. While not a war in the traditional sense, the two countries were in a state of military and political tension that lasted nearly 50 years and were involved in proxy wars such as the war in Vietnam.

Apr 11, 1970 · James A. Lovell, Jr., Commander: By the time of Apollo 13, Lovell had already spent extensive time in space, serving aboard the Gemini VII and XII missions, and Apollo 8. John L. Swigert, Jr., Command Module Pilot: Apollo 13 was Swigert's first and only mission in space, having replaced Ken Mattingly who was exposed to the German measles at the time of the …