Space Exploration

In The Museum: Toilet Training

By Rebecca Maksel

Designers (from left) Tom Hudspeth, Harold Rosen, and Don Williams, holding a tube for amplifying radio frequency signals, surround the world’s first geosynchronous satellite, Syncom.

How the Spaceship Got Its Shape

In the 1950s Harvey Allen solved the problem of atmospheric entry. But first he had to convince his colleagues.
By Andrew Chaikin

A typical Alaskan sky, photographed from Eielson Air Force Base, 25 miles southeast of Fairbanks, displays auroral structures and motions that scientists still find mystifying.

The Shuttle in a Different Light

The space shuttle glows in photographs taken by one of its own technicians.

Dyson during wilderness training in Russia, January 2009.

Then and Now: Mars Travel Guide

By Paul Hoversten

The Shuttle Mission No One Wants

If STS-400 launches, be prepared for one of the most dramatic spaceflights ever.
By Paul Hoversten

Joe Tanner works outside the International Space Station during the STS-115 mission.

Tools of the (Astronaut) Trade

What you'll need to assemble your own space station.
By Joe Pappalardo

Satellite Smashers

Space-faring nations: Clean up low Earth orbit or you're grounded.
By Tony Reichhardt

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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.

Which way lies our future in space? A discussion. By Tony Reichhardt

A small band of believers urges NASA to take its next step—onto an asteroid. By Michael Klesius

When it’s not the journey but the destination that counts. By Michael Klesius

By Rebecca Maksel

For that satellite dish on your roof and the phone calls you make to Japan, you can thank Harold Rosen. By Guy Gugliotta

How can we find other Earths if their suns keep blinding us? By Tony Reichhardt

Bill Elkins has been outfitting astronauts since before NASA was born. By Michael Klesius

Astronauts had to swim before they could walk.

We’re about to get a peek at the solar system’s final frontier. By Guy Gugliotta

Armed with their checklists, the Apollo astronauts literally read themselves to the moon. By Matthew Hersch

Some people go to Las Vegas to gamble, others to learn about Mars. By Tony Reichhardt

In the 1950s Harvey Allen solved the problem of atmospheric entry. But first he had to convince his colleagues. By Andrew Chaikin

What we still have to learn about the Northern Lights. By Tim Wright

When you’re 200 miles up, it’s easy to hide what you’re up to. By Michael Cassutt

A National Air and Space Museum astronomer picks some of his favorite images from the storied telescope.

It took 400,000 people, working under extreme pressure, to reach the moon in 1969. Like any army, they suffered casualties. By The Editors

NASA tests the seaworthiness of its new moonship.

Shuck the spacecraft. 182 spacewalkers have. By Tony Reichhardt

The space shuttle glows in photographs taken by one of its own technicians.

Handicapping the space tourism market. By Tony Reichhardt

By Paul Hoversten

As the first lunar explorers prepared to launch, artist Paul Calle was in the room, quietly sketching away.

Three distinct personalities, one goal: reach the moon.

Alan Bean’s moonscapes show what photographs can’t. By The Editors

A collection of otherworldly paintings goes on display at the National Air and Space Museum.

The myth of the spiritual spaceman. By Matthew Hersch

By J.R. Dailey

A collection of readings, pictures, and videos to mark the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing.

In 1959, a group of military pilots became Astronaut Heroes overnight, and created an American icon that survives to this day. By Matthew Hersch

If STS-400 launches, be prepared for one of the most dramatic spaceflights ever. By Paul Hoversten

What you'll need to assemble your own space station. By Joe Pappalardo

Maybe an asteroid wasn't to blame after all. By Bob Craddock

Finding another Earth may be easier than the Kepler project's long quest for funding. By Andrew Lawler

What it was like, in the astronauts’ own words. Excerpts from a new book by Andrew Chaikin.

Where do you take your next vacation after you’ve been to space? If you’re billionaire Charles Simonyi, you go back. By Irene Klotz

It’s not just a problem for astronauts anymore. By Michael Klesius

A spacecraft bites the lunar dust. By Mohi Kumar

Meet the first commercial rocketship pilots. By Michael Belfiore

In space no one can hear you sing. By Michael Cassutt

Space-faring nations: Clean up low Earth orbit or you're grounded. By Tony Reichhardt

Reader Scrapbook

Snapshot

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Air & Space Videos

In the Magazine

Air & Space Interview

New Worlds

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Explore our Brands

Which way lies our future in space? A discussion.
By Tony Reichhardt

A small band of believers urges NASA to take its next step—onto an asteroid.
By Michael Klesius

When it’s not the journey but the destination that counts.
By Michael Klesius

For that satellite dish on your roof and the phone calls you make to Japan, you can thank Harold Rosen.
By Guy Gugliotta

How can we find other Earths if their suns keep blinding us?
By Tony Reichhardt

Bill Elkins has been outfitting astronauts since before NASA was born.
By Michael Klesius

We’re about to get a peek at the solar system’s final frontier.
By Guy Gugliotta

Armed with their checklists, the Apollo astronauts literally read themselves to the moon.
By Matthew Hersch

Some people go to Las Vegas to gamble, others to learn about Mars.
By Tony Reichhardt

In the 1950s Harvey Allen solved the problem of atmospheric entry. But first he had to convince his colleagues.
By Andrew Chaikin

What we still have to learn about the Northern Lights.
By Tim Wright

When you’re 200 miles up, it’s easy to hide what you’re up to.
By Michael Cassutt

It took 400,000 people, working under extreme pressure, to reach the moon in 1969. Like any army, they suffered casualties.
By The Editors

Shuck the spacecraft. 182 spacewalkers have.
By Tony Reichhardt

Handicapping the space tourism market.
By Tony Reichhardt

Alan Bean’s moonscapes show what photographs can’t.
By The Editors

The myth of the spiritual spaceman.
By Matthew Hersch

In 1959, a group of military pilots became Astronaut Heroes overnight, and created an American icon that survives to this day.
By Matthew Hersch

If STS-400 launches, be prepared for one of the most dramatic spaceflights ever.
By Paul Hoversten

What you'll need to assemble your own space station.
By Joe Pappalardo

Maybe an asteroid wasn't to blame after all.
By Bob Craddock

Finding another Earth may be easier than the Kepler project's long quest for funding.
By Andrew Lawler

Where do you take your next vacation after you’ve been to space? If you’re billionaire Charles Simonyi, you go back.
By Irene Klotz

It’s not just a problem for astronauts anymore.
By Michael Klesius

A spacecraft bites the lunar dust.
By Mohi Kumar

Meet the first commercial rocketship pilots.
By Michael Belfiore

In space no one can hear you sing.
By Michael Cassutt

Space-faring nations: Clean up low Earth orbit or you're grounded.
By Tony Reichhardt