National Air and Space MuseumVerified account

@airandspace

Celebrating gravity and the moments we took to the skies and did what seemed impossible. Start exploring:

Smithsonian, Washington DC
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Joined May 2008
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  1. 59 minutes ago

    In honor of the upcoming Space Shuttle anniversary, this month's educational webcast is all about America's reusable spaceplane. Watch "Space Shuttle at 40" to learn about the history and science of this one-of-a-kind spacecraft:

    Space Shuttle flying in space, with clouds seen behind it.
    15 retweets 86 likes
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  2. 4 hours ago

    On this day in 1993, Ellen Ochoa become the first Hispanic woman to fly in space. Learn more about her journey to space:

    Woman in orange astronaut flight suit with helmet in front of her and American flag and space shuttle model behind her.
    34 retweets 190 likes
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  3. 8 hours ago

    On this day in 1942, during World War II, the 1903 Wright Flyer was moved to an underground chamber 100 miles west of London. But why was it in Great Britain? Explore the Wright-Smithsonian Feud:

    Picture of Wright Flyer on display at Air and Space Museum.
    2 replies 51 retweets 273 likes
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  4. 23 hours ago

    Why would we not share this amazing image of Jupiter’s southern hemisphere? 📸 of Jupiter’s iconic swirling clouds was taken by Juno spacecraft and processed by citizen scientists Gerald Eichstädt and Seán Doran.

    Jupiter’s iconic swirling clouds was taken by NASA Juno's spacecraft and processed by citizen scientists Gerald Eichstädt and Seán Doran
    25 replies 217 retweets 1,443 likes
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  5. Apr 7

    Change is in the air at Air and Space! Our renovation just reached a major milestone — we've started moving artifacts back into the west end of the building, starting with the Turner RT-14 Meteor.

    Change is in the Air: Artifacts Return to the Building
    The National Air and Space Museum's renovation project has reached a major milestone.
    1 reply 15 retweets 96 likes
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  6. Apr 7

    Philip Van Horn Weems became a world’s leading expert in navigational techniques for aviators—including some the biggest names—by the late 1920s. Read about his life and access some of the archival documents he donated to us:

    Captain Philip Van Horn Weems, US Navy (ret), in winter uniform, poses standing in front of a blackboard holding a copy of his "Space Navigation Handbook," in his office at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland
    11 retweets 64 likes
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  7. Apr 7

    Is this a scene from a movie? Not at all! Taken in 1983, this is a picture of the first spacewalk of the Space Shuttle program. It lasted 4 hours and 17 minutes and was performed by astronauts Donald Peterson and Story Musgrave.

    9 replies 102 retweets 631 likes
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  8. Apr 7

    20 years ago today, NASA's Mars Odyssey was launched to the Red Planet. The mission was named "2001 Mars Odyssey" as a tribute to Arthur C. Clarke's influential science fiction story. More on the mission:

    NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft orbiting above the Red Planet
    3 replies 77 retweets 426 likes
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  9. Apr 6

    On this day in 1938, the first test flight of the P-39 Airacobra prototype was completed. The Airacobra eventually became a successful ground attack aircraft, and the U.S. sent over 700 to Great Britain and the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease agreement.

    3 replies 35 retweets 276 likes
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  10. Apr 6

    On Sunday, April 4, Ingenuity was successfully deployed by NASA’s Perseverance rover and has since made it through its first night on Mars. Soon, it will be the first aircraft to attempt powered, controlled flight on another planet!

    7 replies 63 retweets 422 likes
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  11. Apr 6

    ☄️🔥 Burn, baby, burn! Today in 1960, Sputnik 3 reentered Earth's atmosphere and burned up. It was the largest satellite ever flown to that point by far, with a mass that was double the five previously flown satellites combined.

    3 replies 17 retweets 136 likes
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  12. Apr 6

    What do Seattle, Washington, Boston, and Chicago have in common? Each was used as a name for one of the four Douglas World Cruisers that completed the first circumnavigation of the globe by air. in 1924, a U.S. Army Air Service crew departed for this history-making flight.

    1 reply 8 retweets 85 likes
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  13. Apr 6

    The U.S. did not possess a combat-worthy aircraft when it entered World War I in 1917. This de Havilland DH-4 was a test aircraft for what was to become America's first bomber and the only American-built aircraft to serve with the U.S. Army Air Service in the war.

    Canva colored biplane hanging in museum setting
    13 retweets 114 likes
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  14. Apr 5

    On this day in 1940, the Soviet MiG-1 prototype flew for the first time. While not a highly successful aircraft itself, it was the first in a line of famous MiG fighters, like the MiG-15 in our collection.

    Photo of MiG-15 on display in museum setting.
    8 replies 46 retweets 344 likes
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  15. Apr 5

    Today in 1990, Pegasus, the first U.S. air-launched orbital launch vehicle, made its maiden flight. Pegasus XL, pictured here at our Udvar-Hazy Center, was introduced later:

    White launch vehicle on display in museum setting
    39 retweets 346 likes
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  16. Apr 5

    Good catch by some of our eagle-eyed Star Trek fans — the crew of Enterprise were there to observe first contact, but the Vulcans were welcomed by Zefram Cochrane of the warp ship Phoenix.

    5 replies 9 retweets 134 likes
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  17. Apr 5

    On this day in 2063, the crew of the USS Enterprise-E will make first contact with an alien race — the Vulcans. 🖖 We want to know your stories: What was your first experience with ?

    USS Enterprise in a display case
    58 replies 225 retweets 1,269 likes
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  18. Apr 5

    On this day in 1945, Black officers at Freeman Field began a pre-planned display of resistance against segregation on base and systemic racism in the US Army Air Forces. Learn the story of the Freeman Field Mutiny:

    Group of arrest black Airmen lined up for transport by police officers.
    1 reply 25 retweets 153 likes
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  19. Apr 5

    Today in 1973, Pioneer 11 launched. Pioneer 11 was the second spacecraft to fly by Jupiter and the first to explore Saturn.

    Artist rendering of Pioneer 11 at Jupiter
    1 reply 88 retweets 571 likes
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  20. Apr 4

    Baseball and aerospace? Thanks to our amazing archivists we can find these connections. Celebrate the baseball season with this gem from our archives: A baseball game at the Centerville Mills YMCA camp in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Found in the National Air Races Negative Collection.

    A baseball game at the Centerville Mills YMCA camp in Chagrin Falls, Ohio
    1 reply 3 retweets 60 likes
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