Smithsonian Voices

From the Smithsonian Museums

Amy Stamm

Three men sit under the shade of a massive airplane wing; one of the men is wearing an officer's hat. Two huge aircraft are parked in the background, both are painted black. Behind them is a lush island landscape. The photo has been given a green tint.

A World War II Veteran Recalls the Adventure of Patrolling the Pacific Aboard Flying Boats

This 100-year-old Navy veteran flew PBYs in World War II

Silver twin engine flying boat over a vast ocean. A small boat leaves it's wake below.

Flying Boats Were Once the Luxury Liners of the Air

An illustration depicts a large planet orbiting a distant star, amid a cloud of dust and rocky debris.

Patience Is a Virtue for Astronomers Searching for Signs of Extraterrestrial Intelligence

An artist's renderign of a cavernous museum exhibit space with a dark ceiling illuminated by images of bright white stars and a spiral galaxy. On the floor of the gallery, numerous visitors wander past glass display cases filled with artifacts.

A New Museum Exhibit Gives a Grand Overview on the History of the Telescope

A composite of multiple images. In the background is a landscape of pine trees and fields. Over it in speia tone is an image of pilots in military uniforms. In the foreground is a grey airplane, banked in a turn.

Did the Nazis Kill German Test Pilot Melitta von Stauffenberg?

A sleek jet aircraft painted red, white, and black flies over an air base in the desert.

Does a Fighter Pilot Have to Be Human?

On a black background is a white, angular-shape aircraft with no cockpit. The opening for the jet engine air intake is the front of the aircraft. Painted in black letters on the rear fuselage is: "Boeing Phantom Works." The right wing is marked: "X-45A."

A Drone Named Elsie May Becomes a Museum Artifact

Four military jets fly in a diamond formation across a blue sky. On the underside of each jet's wings, "US Navy" is painted in bold yellow letters. White airshow smoke streams from each jet. The moon is visible in the sky.

The Blue Angels Get Their First Female Jet Demonstration Pilot

A vibrant hydrogen balloon with intricate blue and gold designs floats above a bustling outdoor event set against a cloudy sky. Below, several white tents are set up in a grassy park, with groups of people mingling and walking around.

Balloon Expert Reacts to the Bridgerton Runaway Balloon Scene

A ladies long-sleeve blouse fastened by four plastic white buttons hangs against a dark background. The blouse features a multi-color map pattern printed on a white silk background.

How a World War II Escape Map Found a Second Use as a Ladies Garment

The smooth surface of a round planet is partially illuminated by the sun; the planet's other half is in shadow. The planet is surrounded by thousands of rings.

The Weird, Wild and Wonderful Universe, According to the Internet's Favorite Astronomer

A stunning panorama of the Martian desert with a twilight sky. The landscape appears light rust and dull blue and is covered with boulders. A hill can be seen on the right.

For 20 years, Robots Have Inhabited Mars. What Keeps Them Humming?

Three people stand inside one balloon's cavernous orange envelope during inflation.

See Hundreds of Hot Air Balloons Soar Above the Ground at the Largest Event of Its Kind

Adam Savage poses heroically in his spacesuit, which appears white, bulbous, and dusty despite never going to space. His face, wearing glasses, is illuminated behind the transparent plastic bubble that forms most of the helmet.

Adam Savage's Quest to Build His Own Spacesuit

A German fighter aircraft is painted dull grey, with some black markings including a Nazi swastika. A large gun in mounted near the nose of the plane, which has a single large propeller.

Where to See World War II Aircraft Up Close

A museum display features a statue of a male astronaut standing with his arms outstretched in front of a metal sculpture lit by red and purple lighting. A museum visitor stands in a similar pose in front of the statue.

A Cultural History of Soviet Cosmonauts

Two U.S. Navy men in uniform--a pilot and an aviator — stand in front of the cockpit of an F-4B Phantom II military jet aircraft.

Reflections from a Vietnam War POW

A small silver pin shows a smiling Snoopy, a cartoon dog, wearing a spacesuit with a large clear glass helmet, performing his iconic happy beagle dance.

The Story of Snoopy in Space

Speedball Alice, a restored dark green P-51D airplane with white stripes, is parked on a tarmac in the Reno desert, with mountains and blue sky in the background.

The Final Reno Air Show

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Beyond Totality: Appreciating the Partial Eclipse

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Celebrate the April 8 Solar Eclipse With the National Air and Space Museum

Walt Disney, an senior man in a white button up short-sleeved shirt, with a tie and slacks, greets a small crowd of people in front of his airplane, which is large enough it extends out of frame and is white with orange and blue stripes.

Yes, Walt Disney’s Private Jet Was Called Mickey Mouse One

Peregrine Lunar Lander

This Object Represents a New Approach to Moon Exploration

Underside view of space shuttle in flight with blue sky background.

Space Shuttle Astronauts Tell All

The pitch black night is illuminated by a bright white-hot rocket engine plume, which illuminates clouds of smoke surrounding the launch pad.

How Commercial Landers Are Changing Lunar Exploration

Chuck Yeager's Ribbon Bar

What Chuck Yeager's Medals and Ribbons Tell Us About His Career

A black-and-white photo, tinged light brown, shows around 3/4 of massive airship as it exits a pitch black hangar opening.

Are We in an Airship Renaissance?

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First-Responder Rescue Truck From 9/11 Goes on Display at the National Air and Space Museum

Multiple aircraft are on exhibit, including five suspended from the ceiling. Displayed on the floor is the Lockheed SR-71, viewed from the rear--the exhaust nozzles of the powerful jet engines in full view.

Reflections on the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center as It Turns 20

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Barbie: An Astronaut for the Ages

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Ground Control to Major Tom: How David Bowie Soundtracked the Moon Landing

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Preserving Launch Infrastructure

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Five Things On Board NASA's Artemis I Mission

Sean Tucker Flying Challenger III

Aerobatic Pilot Sean Tucker and Orbis International Will Speak at National Air and Space Museum

Prosthetic Spock ear tips against black background

The Iconic Ears of Mr. Spock

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National Air and Space Museum to Temporarily Close March 2022 to Finish Brand New Galleries

Smoke pours from the west wing of the Pentagon building September 11, 2001 in Arlington, Virginia, after a plane crashed into the building and set off a huge explosion. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Smithsonian's Chris Browne Was the Manager at Ronald Reagan National Airport on 9/11

Michael Collins, the Museum's third director, stands before the steel skeleton of the new National Air and Space Museum in July 1974.

Carrying the Fire

Lt. Ward Hitt, Jr., sitting in the cockpit of his North American F-86A Sabre fighter, gives his crew chief the OK hand sign, South Korea.

70 Years Ago: F-86s and MiGs over Korea

Gen. Glen VanHerck, Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command talks on the phone as part of a video celebrating the NORAD Santa Tracker's 65th year.

Why NORAD Tracks Santa Claus

Chuck Yeager with Bell X-1. (NASM)

Remembering Chuck Yeager, a Pilot with the Right Stuff

Artist's concept of Mars 2020 rover with sample tubes.

Why NASA Is Headed Back to Mars with Mars Rover Perseverance

Alma W. Thomas, Blast Off, 1970, acrylic on canvas, 74 x 54 inches

The Art of Alma W. Thomas: A Colorful Response

The 101 African American officers arrested at Freeman Field about to be transported to Goodman Field, Kentucky. This image was likely taken with a hidden camera by Master Sergeant Harold J. Beaulieu, Sr. Other photographs of the event taken by another African American enlisted man were destroyed by a white officer on the spot.

Mutiny at Freeman Field: The Tuskegee Airmen on Trial, Part 2

Men of the all-African American 477th Bombardment Group pose in front of a North American B-25 Mitchell.

A Pattern of Resistance: The Tuskegee Airmen on Trial, Part 1

Reverend Ralph Abernathy, Hosea Williams, and other members of the SCLC Poor People's Campaign march through the lunar lander exhibit at Kennedy Space Center before the launch of Apollo 11.

The Challenge Before Us: A Historical Reflection on 1969 and 2020

Three WASP at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas.

Flying on the Homefront: Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP)

This American flag was left on the International Space Station by the crew of STS-135, the last space shuttle mission, with the intention of it being retrieved by the next crew to launch from American soil.

Launching Astronauts from American Soil: Why is it Important?

Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley walk through Crew Access Arm in SpaceX spacesuits during a dress rehearsal for the first crewed SpaceX launch.

SpaceX Dragon Launch and Entry Suits

Space X's Crew Dragon spacecraft, which is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

Redefining How NASA Gets into Space

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in the days before the first crewed launch of the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Launch Complex 39: From Saturn to Shuttle to SpaceX and SLS

U.S. Army Air Force technical sergeant Ben Kuroki, who served in the Europe and Pacific theaters during World War II.

Ben Kuroki: A Story We All Need to Know

The V-1 (Vergeltungswaffe Eins, or Vengeance Weapon One), was the world's first operational cruise missile. (Credit: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Insitution)

The Myth of the German “Wonder Weapons”

Al Worden visits his Apollo 15 spacesuit at the National Air and Space Museum.

Our Friend Al Who Went to the Moon: Remembering Al Worden

A set of Star Wars toys manufactured for the release of The Empire Strikes Back, 1980. This set was donated to the Museum in 1997 from a private donor, Michael O’Harro. Credit: Eric Long, National Air and Space Museum.

Star Wars: A Merchandising Empire

Amelia Earhart flew this Lockheed 5B Vega solo across the Atlantic and non-stop across the United States -- both firsts for a woman. Earhart left a greater legacy than her many record flights. She also helped promote aviation and air travel, especially among women, and proved that a woman could handle an airplane as well as a man.

Transforming the Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight Gallery

The aircraft that enjoyed what was perhaps the longest and most successful career in air racing history was Steve Wittman's Chief Oshkosh, known in the post-World War II era as Buster. From 1931 until its retirement in 1954, this midget racer set records and took numerous trophies in class races and free-for-alls

The Many Lives of Buster the Air Racer

Return-to-Earth specialist Poppy Northcutt during the Apollo program.

Calculating Trajectories and Breaking Boundaries During Apollo

Artist Rendering The Nation of Speed exhibition will recount humankind’s desire to become the fastest on land, sea, air, and space in the pursuit of commerce, power, and prestige. This new gallery will be a portrait of human ingenuity and will explore how the pursuit of speed has shaped American culture and our national identity.

Ford v. Ferrari Reminds Us That We Are a Nation of Speed

Poster for the Aeronauts. Courtesy Amazon Studios.

The Aeronauts Brings the Bravado of Balloon Flight to the Big Screen (Artistic License Included)

Zeiss Projector in the Albert Einstein Planetarium at the National Air and Space Museum, weeks before being deinstalled.

Farewell to the Zeiss Planetarium Projector

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A World War II Veteran Recalls the Adventure of Patrolling the Pacific Aboard Flying Boats

Flying Boats Were Once the Luxury Liners of the Air

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