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MUSEUM NEWS
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National Air and Space Museum Trophy Renamed to Honor Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins
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Last month we announced that our annual National Air and Space Museum Trophy has been renamed the Michael Collins Trophy to honor the Apollo 11 astronaut's contributions to aviation and spaceflight and service to our museum as our director when we opened in 1976. Winners of the Collins Trophy receive a miniature of "The Web of Space," pictured above.
At the end of March, the Collins Trophy will be awarded for current and lifetime achievement. The 2020 Collins Trophy for Lifetime Achievement will be awarded to scientist and former Jet Propulsion Laboratory director Charles Elachi. The 2020 Collins Trophy for Current Achievement will be awarded to the Hubble Space Telescope team. Learn more.
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Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of VE Day
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On May 9, 2020, we will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe with a fly-in event at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Visitors will have a chance to get up close and personal with World War II aircraft flown in for the event, talk to pilots, interact with World War II reenactors, and more. Participating aircraft include an Avro Lancaster, a Supermarine Spitfire, P-51s, and more.
This event is presented in conjunction with the Arsenal of Democracy flyover, during which 100 World War II-era aircraft will take to the skies over Washington, DC, flying in historically sequenced warbird formations on May 8. A selection of the aircraft will participate in our Udvar-Hazy Center event on May 9. This will be the only place where members of the public will have access to aircraft participating in the flyover. Learn more.
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DO YOU KNOW?
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Who was the first American woman to walk in space? (Her EVA gloves are pictured here!) Answer.
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TOP STORY
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Exploration is About Perseverance
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Last week, NASA announced the name of its newest Mars rover, scheduled to launch this July and land on the Red Planet next February: Perseverance. The Perseverance rover looks a lot like Curiosity but it will be equipped with a different payload of science instruments to use to not only find signs of ancient habitable conditions, but also look for evidence of past microbial life. In our latest blog, Museum scientist John Grant, who led the mission's landing site selection, explains what's new about this rover. Read now.
We also published recently a blog about the surprisingly complicated rules of when Leap Days occur (and when they don't). Read now.
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THIS MONTH IN HISTORY
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Flying Through Glass Ceilings
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On March 8, 1910, 110 years ago this month, pioneering aviator "Baroness" Raymonde de la Roche received her pilot's license — the first pilot's license awarded to a woman. De la Roche was taught to fly by aviation pioneer Charles Voisin at the French flying grounds at Chalons. She flew in the 1910 Reims meet as the only female participant and later won the Femima Cup for a nonstop flight of over four hours.
This Women's History Month, learn more about pioneering women in aerospace.
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REMEMBERING KATHERINE JOHNSON
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On February 24, 2020, Katherine Johnson passed away at the age of 101, after a long life of learning and teaching — and quietly helping the United States reach our destiny in space. As a mathematician who calculated the trajectories for some of NASA’s most important missions, her contribution to history cannot be overstated, though it was overlooked for decades. Katherine, and countless unsung heroes just like her, carried the nation’s space program forward, despite pervasive opposition at all levels of society. Katherine went where her skills were needed, even if she wasn’t invited. And in that quiet tenacity, she forged a legacy that will inform and inspire generations of young women looking for their own space in history.
Our director Ellen Stofan reflects on her legacy.
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ON VIDEO
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POLL
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Did you vote in our poll a few weeks ago about your favorite Kelly Johnson-designed aircraft? An aircraft designer and engineer, Clarence "Kelly" Johnson managed Lockheed’s iconic Skunk Works division and contributed some of the most original aircraft designs of the 20th century.
Two aircraft emerged as the leaders in our poll, so now it's time to vote for the final two. Which of these Kelly Johnson aircraft is your favorite?
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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In DC
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At the Udvar-Hazy Center
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Heritage Family Day
Women in Aviation and Space
Saturday, March 14, 2020, 10 am to 3 pm
This program is made possible by the generous support of Northrop Grumman.
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PARTING SHOTS
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Columbia's New Home
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Earlier this month, the Apollo 11 command module Columbia returned to Air and Space after a two year tour around the country. It will be on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia for a year before it is moved downtown to be readied for display in the new Destination Moon exhibition.
In its new location just outside the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar, command module Columbia is displayed nearby Space Shuttle Discovery. Don't the command module that made history and the workhorse of the space shuttle fleet look great together?
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