Opens profile photo
Follow
Click to Follow airandspace
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
Celebrating #IdeasThatDefy gravity and the moments we took to the skies and did what seemed impossible. Start exploring: airandspace.si.edu
Smithsonian, Washington DCs.si.edu/legalJoined May 2008
581 Following
385.6K Followers

National Air and Space Museum’s Tweets

Pinned Tweet
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
Planning a visit to the Museum in DC this winter? Don't forget that timed-entry passes are required for entry into our DC location. Passes are free and are currently available to be reserved for visits through January 14, 2023. Reserve yours: s.si.edu/3fM8dVr
Airliners from various points in history hanging in a museum gallery with a large window wall at the back.
Command module Columbia on display in the Destination Moon exhibition.
1
80
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
This breathtaking image reminds us how beautiful science, exploration, and discovery can be. It was taken 20 years ago today by an astronaut on board the ISS and shows Space Shuttle Endeavour passing over New Zealand during STS-113.
The image is a birds-eye-view of a space shuttle form a distance. The background is Earth appearing mostly blue with a few scattered clouds.
5
286
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
On this day in 1960, the TIROS 2 meteorological satellite launched to test infrared equipment and experimental TV techniques. There were a total of 10 satellites in the experimental TIROS series. This TIROS backup is on display in "One World Connected."
Short cylindrical satellite
2
80
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 17 at our Soar Together family day December 10 at the Museum in DC. Featuring hands-on activities, a screening of "One Small Visit," and conversations with scientists. Reserve free timed-entry passes to attend: s.si.edu/3i9qDnL
Astronaut on the Moon saluting the American flag with the lunar module behind him.
5
178
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
#OTD in 1989, Frederick D. Gregory became the first African American shuttle commander on STS-33 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. This photo is from a later spaceflight (STS-44, which he also commanded.)
A man in a striped polo shirt with Atlantis STS-44 embroidered on it, and and wearing a cap.
1
113
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
Earlier today, the Artemis I Orion spacecraft performed its first powered lunar flyby, making its closest lunar approach about 81 miles above the lunar surface. This photo of the far side of the Moon was taken from a camera on one of Orion's solar arrays as it approached.
The side of the Orion spacecraft, including a partial view of a solar array, with the Moon beyond it.
3
291
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
On this day in 1783, the first human beings to take to the air in free flight did so aboard a Montgolfier balloon from the garden of the Chateau de la Muette.
A sepia toned artwork of a giant balloon craft above a garden. Only the balloon appears in color.
5
201
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
After the Surveyor 3 camera's return to Earth, NASA studied how the lunar environment affected the materials in the two and half years it spent on the Moon. The camera is now on display in the new "Kenneth C. Griffin Exploring the Planets Gallery."
Surveyor 3 camera in display case.
3
93
Show this thread
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
🎥 Long time, no see! Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean grasped the Surveyor 3 TV camera to return it to Earth for scientific examination in this photo taken on this day in 1969. The camera had been on the Moon since April 20, 1967.
A black and white image of an astronaut on the Moon next to Surveyor 3 holding a tall oblong camera.
3
519
Show this thread
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
Edwin Hubble was born on this day in 1889. His career changed the way we view the universe and our place in it, and his spirit of discovery can be seen in his famous quote: “...man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science.�? 📷: The Franklin Institute
Edwin Hubble posing for a picture with a pipe in his mouth.
2
237
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
On this day in 1953, the Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket became the first aircraft to fly twice the speed of sound, at Mach 2. It air-launched from a U.S. Navy Boeing B-29 and reached Mach 2.005 in a shallow dive at over 60,000 feet. #AirSpacePhoto
A white jet with a long pointy nose viewed from the side and against a black backdrop.
1
177
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
If you had the chance to step on the Moon, what would you say during your first steps? Today in 1969, as Pete Conrad jumped from the bottom rung of the LM ladder onto the footpad on the Moon, he said what we were all thinking: "Whoopee!�?
Astronaut backlit by the bright lunar surface, prepares to step down a ladder.
19
463
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
The Cessna O-1A Bird Dog, affectionately called “the jeep with wings,�? was the first all-metal, high-wing, single-engine aircraft to see service in U.S. Army aviation. #OTD in 1971, our Bird Dog was assigned to the U.S. Army Aviation School at Fort Stewart. #AirSpacePhoto
Small Army green aircraft hanging in the Udvar-Hazy Center.
2
133
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
25 years ago today, Kalpana Chawla became the first Indian-American woman to go to space on the STS-87 mission. Chawla tragically died during her second spaceflight (STS-107) in 2003 when Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart during re-entry and the crew was lost.
A young Indian-American woman in an orange NASA astronaut flight suit.
42
2,429
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
At the heart of "The Wright Brothers & the Invention of the Aerial Age" is the original 1903 Wright Flyer, one of the most iconic artifacts in the Smithsonian’s collection. Visit our reimagined Wright gallery at the Museum in DC.
Embedded video
0:30
2.2K views
86
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
On this day in 1969, the Apollo 12 lunar module "Intrepid" landed on the Moon a mere 538 feet from the Surveyor 3 spacecraft. This photo, a close up of Surveyor 3 with the Apollo 12 LM in the background, shows the stunning accuracy of the precision landing.
Robotic spacecraft on the Moon with lunar module in the far distance
5
524
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
On this day in 1998, NASA's Lockheed ER-2 set a world record for medium weight aircraft reaching an altitude of 68,700 ft. If its silhouette looks familiar, there's a reason: the ER-2 was a modified version of the Lockheed U-2 spy plane.
Lockheed ER-2 silhouetted flying against sunset sky
1
175
National Air and Space Museum
@airandspace
#OTD in 2000, Cassini captured this photo of Jupiter’s eye, the Great Red Spot you see disappearing around the eastern edge of the planet, staring at its largest moon Ganymede, which is about 50% larger than Earth’s Moon.
Jupiter takes up most of the frame, with a smaller moon in the bottom right corner, both against the blackness of space.
2
182