Default TopNav Pagewrapper
Smithsonian



null
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
null
What's Up Email Newsletter
null
null

MUSEUM NEWS

null
null

National Air and Space Museum Trophy Renamed to Honor Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins

null
Web of Space trophy
null
null

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.

null
null

Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of VE Day

null
Aircraft outside the Udvar-Hazy Center
null
null

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.

null
null
null

DO YOU KNOW?

null
EVA gloves
null
null

Who was the first American woman to walk in space? (Her EVA gloves are pictured here!) Answer.


null
null

TOP STORY

null
null

Exploration is About Perseverance

null
Rover rendering on Mars
null
null

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.

null
null
null

THIS MONTH IN HISTORY

null
null

Flying Through Glass Ceilings

null
Woman flying early aircraft
null
null

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.

null
null
null

REMEMBERING KATHERINE JOHNSON

null
Woman sitting at desk
null
null

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.

null
null
null

ON VIDEO

null
null
null null null

How do we move large artifacts between museum locations? With a large truck! In this video, museum specialists Kristen Horning and Stephanie Stewart share their role in the move process (and what those stickers on the front of the truck represent!). Watch now.

null
null

POLL

null
null

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?

null
null
null

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

null
null

In DC

null
null Temperature anomolies on globe null Earth Optimism Lecture
Understanding the Climate Crisis
Featuring panelists from NASA and the Smithsonian
Wednesday, March 11, 2020, at 7:30 pm
Reserve free tickets.

This program is part of the Smithsonian’s Earth Optimism initiative.
null
null
null Spitzer infrared image null Exploring Space Lecture
More Things in the Heavens: Infrared Exploration with the Spitzer Space Telescope
Featuring Spitzer project scientist Michael Werner
Wednesday, March 18, 2020, at 8 pm
Reserve free tickets.

This series is made possible by the generous support of Aerojet Rocketdyne and United Launch Alliance.
null
null
null

At the Udvar-Hazy Center

null
null Woman in aviator costume talks to girl scouts null 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.
null
null
null

PARTING SHOTS

null
null

Columbia's New Home


Command module Columbia on display
null
null

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?

null
null
Columbia on display with Discovery in the background
null
null
null
DONATE
National Air and Space Museum
6th St. and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20560

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA 20151
Contact Us
Unsubscribe Privacy Policy
Default BottomNav Pagewrapper
si.edu