The aurora borealis signals an incoming solar storm.

Need to Know

What's the radiation risk from airline flying?

By Joe Pappalardo

The U.K.-based Premium Aircraft Interiors Group offers rear-facing seats strictly for economic reasons, and makes no claims about safety.

Are aft-facing airplane seats safer?

They may well be. But don't look for them anytime soon.
By Michael Klesius

Why do NASA launch times depend on lighting conditions?

It's all about the solar beta angle.
By Michael Klesius

The Lightning II helmet being developed for the F-35.

How do military aircraft helmets track where a pilot is looking?

By Joe Pappalardo

Is bracing for impact really helpful in an airline crash?

Or is it just meant to make us feel like we're doing something?
By Rebecca Maksel

Airliners carry their own portable atmosphere. How much can they afford to lose?

What happens if an airliner suddenly loses cabin pressure?

Let's just say it's not like it is in the movies.
By Rebecca Maksel

Why do airline seats have to be in an upright position during takeoff?

The rules are confusing, but the safety concern is real.
By Joe Pappalardo

Australia at night, as seen by a military weather satellite. That

Did Australians light signal fires for the astronauts?

And would they have been visible from space?
By Rebecca Maksel

How much is my Lindbergh photo worth?

Some Lindys are luckier than others.
By Joe Pappalardo

Battle of Pearl Harbor and the Malay Coast

Are there any photos of Japan's World War II "invasion fleet?"

How to hide thousands of airplanes.
By Joe Pappalardo

Who holds the altitude record for an airplane?

Depends on the category—and on who was watching.
By Rebecca Maksel

What does it take to become an "ace"?

And has anyone ever been stripped of that status?
By Rebecca Maksel

A row of 737-800s at Boeing Field in Seattle

What determines an airplane’s lifespan?

Some keep flying for decades, while others end up on the scrap heap.
By Rebecca Maksel

When did the term "jet lag" come into use?

And has anybody found a cure?
By Rebecca Maksel

Is the Boeing 757 a threat to other airliners?

An unusual wake vortex has landed this airliner in a class by itself.
By Rebecca Maksel

Where Does All the Airport Snow Go?

Clearing runways in winter is no small operation.
By Rebecca Maksel

Why do we have to turn off iPods during takeoff?

By Joe Pappalardo

A group of astronauts and flight controllers monitor the action in Mission Control during the Apollo 13 mission

Did Ron Howard exaggerate the reentry scene in the movie Apollo 13?

A little bit, maybe, but not much.
By Joe Pappalardo

glowing thrusters of a Progress spacecraft

How does the International Space Station dodge space junk?

The 200-ton orbiting behemoth can get out of harm's way, but not very quickly.
By Joe Pappalardo

How did the Apollo astronauts toss their spacesuits overboard?

Hint: They kept the most important part.
By Joe Pappalardo

Voyager ends its round-the-world trip in December 1986.

Why was the Voyager aircraft not symmetrical?

A 20-year mystery solved.
By Joe Pappalardo

How small can satellites get and still be functional?

From Nanosats to Femtosats.
By Joe Pappalardo

Reader Scrapbook

Snapshot

Air & Space Videos

	Space Station Fly-Around Take a narrated tour of the station with the same animation astronauts use in training.
	Lunar Run How a plasma-powered rocket would shoot for the moon.
	The First Lunar Landing One of history's great voyages, captured on 16mm film.
	WW I Pilot Training Rare footage of Army pilots learning to fly Jennies in 1917.
	Armstrong’s Close Call A fiery bailout while training to land on the moon.
	Mercury Astronauts Meet the Press, 1959 ...and answer the question: "What was your least favorite test?"
	Marines Test the Joint Strike Fighter A Marine takes the new F-35 for a spin.
	On the Prowl Climb into the cockpit for a flight in an EA-6B Prowler.
	Dodging Missiles F-105 pilots recall the dangers of flying over North Vietnam.
	F-105 Walkaround Get a close look at the National Air and Space Museum’s Thunderchief.
	PTQ: Put Together Quickly Watch Boeing technicians repair an airliner—in two minutes.
	Operation Tumbler-Snapper Atomic bombs versus airplanes in the Nevada desert.

In the Magazine

In his portrait of the storied racer Rare Bear and its crew, photographer Tyson Rininger captures the sense of anticipation that surrounds air races. “Something’s coming,” this quiet night scene seems to suggest. “Tomorrow, it’s win or lose.”

Air & Space Interview

A&S Interview:
Burt Rutan

A wide-ranging talk with the magician of Mojave

New Worlds

Confidence Booster

This little known Apollo artifact caused astronauts to rest a little easier.

View full archiveRecent Issues

About Us

Air & Space/Smithsonian magazine has been delighting aerospace enthusiasts with the best writing about their favorite subject since April 1986. As an adjunct of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, Air & Space matches the grand scope of the Museum, encompassing every era of aviation and space exploration. With stories that range from the Wright Brothers to the design of NASA's next lunar lander, Air & Space emphasizes the human stories as well as the technology of aviation and spaceflight.

By Joe Pappalardo

They may well be. But don't look for them anytime soon. By Michael Klesius

It's all about the solar beta angle. By Michael Klesius

By Joe Pappalardo

Or is it just meant to make us feel like we're doing something? By Rebecca Maksel

Let's just say it's not like it is in the movies. By Rebecca Maksel

The rules are confusing, but the safety concern is real. By Joe Pappalardo

And would they have been visible from space? By Rebecca Maksel

Some Lindys are luckier than others. By Joe Pappalardo

How to hide thousands of airplanes. By Joe Pappalardo

Depends on the category—and on who was watching. By Rebecca Maksel

And has anyone ever been stripped of that status? By Rebecca Maksel

Some keep flying for decades, while others end up on the scrap heap. By Rebecca Maksel

And has anybody found a cure? By Rebecca Maksel

An unusual wake vortex has landed this airliner in a class by itself. By Rebecca Maksel

Clearing runways in winter is no small operation. By Rebecca Maksel

By Joe Pappalardo

A little bit, maybe, but not much. By Joe Pappalardo

The 200-ton orbiting behemoth can get out of harm's way, but not very quickly. By Joe Pappalardo

Hint: They kept the most important part. By Joe Pappalardo

A 20-year mystery solved. By Joe Pappalardo

From Nanosats to Femtosats. By Joe Pappalardo

Reader Scrapbook

Snapshot

Most Popular

Air & Space Videos

In the Magazine

Air & Space Interview

New Worlds

View full archiveRecent Issues

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They may well be. But don't look for them anytime soon.
By Michael Klesius

It's all about the solar beta angle.
By Michael Klesius

Or is it just meant to make us feel like we're doing something?
By Rebecca Maksel

Let's just say it's not like it is in the movies.
By Rebecca Maksel

The rules are confusing, but the safety concern is real.
By Joe Pappalardo

And would they have been visible from space?
By Rebecca Maksel

Some Lindys are luckier than others.
By Joe Pappalardo

How to hide thousands of airplanes.
By Joe Pappalardo

Depends on the category—and on who was watching.
By Rebecca Maksel

And has anyone ever been stripped of that status?
By Rebecca Maksel

Some keep flying for decades, while others end up on the scrap heap.
By Rebecca Maksel

And has anybody found a cure?
By Rebecca Maksel

An unusual wake vortex has landed this airliner in a class by itself.
By Rebecca Maksel

Clearing runways in winter is no small operation.
By Rebecca Maksel

A little bit, maybe, but not much.
By Joe Pappalardo

The 200-ton orbiting behemoth can get out of harm's way, but not very quickly.
By Joe Pappalardo

Hint: They kept the most important part.
By Joe Pappalardo

A 20-year mystery solved.
By Joe Pappalardo

From Nanosats to Femtosats.
By Joe Pappalardo