posted 04-08-2023 10:15 AM               

Here at the National Air and Space Museum, we are gratified by the great reaction we've had to our new exhibitions from those who have visited in the last six months. And we are excited to be able to share them with even more people through our new virtual tours!

These online experiences, featuring high-resolution 3D photography of the full exhibitions, allow you to walk through the galleries and explore them from wherever you are.

We are launching this project with the Destination Moon virtual tour. Check out Alan Shepard's Freedom 7 spacecraft and spacesuit displayed side by side, stand under a Saturn V F-1 engine, and learn more about humanity's journey to the Moon.

posted 09-12-2023 12:33 PM               

National Air and Space Museum Receives Over $11 Million From National Science Foundation

New "Discovering Our Universe" Exhibition Anticipated To Open 2026

The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum has received over $11 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation to support the creation of the new "National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe" exhibition. The exhibition will illuminate how the development of new and more precise tools transformed humankind's understanding of the origin, content and fate of the universe. It is anticipated to open in 2026 and is part of the museum's ongoing transformation of its galleries at its flagship building in Washington, D.C.

"We are very appreciative of the National Science Foundation's generous support of the transformed 'Discovering Our Universe' exhibition," said Chris Browne, John and Adrienne Mars Director of the museum. "NSF was one of the original supporters of the museum's prior version of this exhibition, the 'Explore the Universe' gallery, which opened in 2001. With NSF's support, this new exhibition will play a critical role in educating the public about the science of astronomy."

The exhibition will show the history of astronomy and where the field is headed. It will feature a variety of artifacts that have helped astronomers understand the world people cannot see, including artifacts from the Event Horizon Telescope that created the first direct photo of a black hole, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Observatory that detected the first gravitational wave from colliding black holes and the DTM Spectrograph that Vera Rubin used to yield evidence for the existence of dark matter. The gallery will also be a dynamic space for learning and will be built with the infrastructure for museum experts and educators to broadcast into classrooms around the world.

"The U.S. National Science Foundation is proud to help inspire the next generation of explorers to find their STEM spark in the 'National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe' exhibition at the National Air and Space Museum," said Sethuraman Panchanathan, the foundation's director. "NSF looks forward to helping bring the magic and mystery of our galaxy to individuals of all ages, abilities and backgrounds and empower them to interact with wonders of our world and beyond."

Expanding the accessibility of exhibitions is a priority of the National Air and Space Museum, and the National Science Foundation's support will directly benefit those efforts. An audio navigation system will be created that will tie accessible exhibition elements together, give a gallery overview, spotlight artifacts, give interactive instructions and expand descriptions of tactiles within the gallery for visitors who are blind, have low vision or have brain-based disabilities. Since the "National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe" exhibition will not open until 2026, the museum will pilot the audio experience in the "Kenneth C. Griffin Exploring the Planets Gallery."

posted 12-07-2023 11:26 AM               

The final piece of the puzzle! Yesterday (Dec. 6), our construction team installed the final piece of stone on the outside of our museum building on the National Mall. Throughout this multi-year process, all 12,000 stones were replaced on the building's facade.

posted 01-30-2024 07:35 PM               

NASA's Artemis I moon capsule to land in renovated Smithsonian gallery in 2026

NASA's Artemis I spacecraft, which flew around the moon in 2022, will be displayed by the Smithsonian as part of the renovated galleries set to open at the National Air and Space Museum in 2026.

The space capsule, which set a new record for the farthest distance from Earth traveled by a returning human-rated spacecraft, will join other new and returning artifacts in "At Home in Space," one of four space-dedicated galleries that are expected to be open in time for the museum's 50th anniversary and the United States' 250th anniversary. The Washington, D.C. museum is also working on five aviation-themed areas, an exhibition dedicated to innovators and an art gallery.

posted 10-15-2024 09:00 AM               

Blue Origin donates New Shepard rocket and crew capsule to Smithsonian

Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos once pledged that if his company's first rocket to reach space and land vertically back on Earth survived an abort test then he would "reward it for its service" by putting it into a museum.

Eight years later, Bezos has made good on that promise and then some.

"There is no better final landing pad for New Shepard than the Smithsonian," said Bezos in a statement. "We are honored and grateful."

posted 10-15-2024 09:35 PM               

How do we move a massive rocket into the Museum and install it in place? Very carefully!

Check out this timelapse of the move and install of the Blue Origin New Shepard "Propulsion Module 4-2" booster that just joined our collection.