National Air and Space MuseumCompte certifié

16 years ago today, our restoration of the B-29 Enola Gay was officially completed with the aircraft fully reassembled for the first time since 1960: https://s.si.edu/33GsdBU pic.twitter.com/Xo1RWgwESk

Today in 1964, the first recorded combat loss in Vietnam was an F-100D (56-3085), shot down over Laos. See an F-100D Super Sabre on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center: https://s.si.edu/2mMyfN5 pic.twitter.com/bjMwISfEoe

Today in 1951, Col. Fred J. Ascani set a 635.686 mph world speed record in a F-86F Sabre and received the Mackay Trophy. We have a North American F-86A Sabre on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center: https://s.si.edu/2wgrjyY pic.twitter.com/lrFimnx3Xw

Today in 1877, Asaph Hall discovered the larger of Mars' two moons and named it Phobos: https://s.si.edu/2mIbdam pic.twitter.com/DcTAp7IKRg

Happy birthday to NASA flight director and Apollo legend Gene Kranz. One of Kranz’s iconic vests, which came to represent the strong and can-do approach that pervaded his mission control team, is in our collection: https://s.si.edu/2RJp6lT pic.twitter.com/sb8PE9mj6s

Today in 1946: As part of an experiment, Sgt L. Lambert became the first American to be ejected from an aircraft using an emergency escape device, from a P-61 Black Widow like this one: https://s.si.edu/2JZI7fA pic.twitter.com/WGVUC7Lotl

On this day in 1859, balloonist John Wise attempted a transcontinental flight from Lafayette, Indiana in "Jupiter." Although unsuccessful in his attempt, he did make history: it was the first officially sanctioned airmail flight. More from @postalmuseum: https://s.si.edu/33xct4a pic.twitter.com/xtSmAT0x92

Happy birthday Margaret Hamilton! Hamilton wrote the code that brought the #Apollo11 astronauts into space and safely back home again. https://s.si.edu/2gQ6JdI  #BecauseOfHerStorypic.twitter.com/11DcWifWAG

Today in 1961: Explorer 12 spacecraft launched to measure trapped particles, solar wind protons, cosmic-ray particles, and more: https://s.si.edu/2N351bk pic.twitter.com/Y2tqLAOkjU

75 years ago today, the German Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet flew its first operational sortie. It was the first and only tailless rocket-powered interceptor to see operational service. https://s.si.edu/2KPalMF pic.twitter.com/L33Z30YYsN

Airborne operations played an integral role in D-Day and the invasion of France and liberation of Western Europe during #WorldWarII. We explore the tech behind D-Day's moonlit airborne ops on the blog: https://s.si.edu/2JWtK07  #NationalAirborneDaypic.twitter.com/AzCHwzL0KN

50 years ago today, Darryl Greenamyer broke the 30-year-old speed record for piston-engine aircraft held by the German Messerschmitt Me 209 when he reached 483 miles per hour in this heavily modified Grumman Bearcat: https://s.si.edu/2OmQ2qG  #AirSpacePhotopic.twitter.com/PPPk8TYbe2

"This is what I get for telling them I played Peter Pan in college!" This was one of our favorite visitor-submitted captions for this photo. Explore the real story (and more caption jokes!): https://s.si.edu/2e8qOya  #NationalTellAJokeDaypic.twitter.com/URRQJAxlrG

Today in 1960: Joseph W. Kittinger Jr. completed a record parachute jump from 102,000 ft, a record that would stand for over 50 years: https://s.si.edu/2bctNCb  #IdeasThatDefypic.twitter.com/j9HIjXxnkm

Today in 2002: Asteroid 2002 NY 40 was photographed passing near Earth, approximately 326,000 miles at closest approach. : Courtesy @NOAONorth.pic.twitter.com/E81QDlxUoh

The @rafredarrows are coming to the Udvar-Hazy Center! Get up close to the 3 aircraft on static display, peek inside the cockpit, and meet the pilots! And don't miss the flyovers when they arrive (10 am) and depart (3 pm). Details: https://s.si.edu/31dJFvH  #RedArrowsTourpic.twitter.com/xdO2rDlRkk

Today in 1935, pioneering aviator Wiley Post and humorist Will Rogers crashed near Point Barrow, Alaska, and died a short time later: https://s.si.edu/2L0Kwtl  : Rogers, Alaskan musher Leonhard Seppala, Post, and bush pilot Joe Crosson, earlier that summer in AKpic.twitter.com/K5wBxkDTs1

Sleeping in space can be pretty difficult, so astronauts are encouraged to take naps. (Can we follow this advice on Earth, too?) Here's how they catch some z's in microgravity: http://s.si.edu/2Pcihck  #NationalRelaxationDaypic.twitter.com/V0lQO5Gmed