On July 20, 1969, humans walked on the Moon for the first time.We look back at the legacy of our first small steps on the Moon and look forward to the next giant leap.

The Mercury spacesuit was a close-fitting, two-layer, full pressure suit developed by the B.F. Goodrich Company from their Mark IV pressure suit, as used by the U.S. Navy. It was selected by NASA in ...

We rely on the generous support of donors, sponsors, members, and other benefactors to share the history and impact of aviation and spaceflight, educate the public, and inspire future generations.

May 20, 1932: Amelia Earhart departs Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, in her Lockheed Vega on her solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic. On May 20-21, 1932, Earhart became the first woman—and the only ...

Otto Lilienthal compiled and published a table of coefficients of lift and drag for the airfoil shape he used on his gliders. The table became quite well known and was the starting point for ...

Visit us in Washington, DC and Chantilly, VA to explore hundreds of the world’s most significant objects in aviation and space history. Free timed-entry passes are required for the Museum in DC. This ...

Nicknamed Schwalbe (Swallow), the Messerschmitt Me 262 surpassed the performance of every other World War II fighter. Faster than the North American P-51 Mustang by 190 kilometers (120 miles) per hour ...

Developed from the DB-600 engine first produced in November 1937, the DB-600 series was used primarily in Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Bf 110 fighters. In 1939, a Messerschmitt 209V1, using a DB-605ARJ ...

The SNJ-4 is a derivative of a trainer ordered by the U. S. Army in 1935 and designated as the BT-9 (Basic Trainer No. 9). North American Aviation entered the aircraft designed by J. H. "Dutch" ...

The PBM (Patrol Bomber, Martin) Mariner is one of the least known patrol aircraft of World War Two, yet it was also one of the most successful. While the Consolidated PBY Catalina (see NASM collection ...

Earth and Moon photographed together by NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft on September 18, 1977.

Destination Moon Virtual Tour Accessibility Mode. Explore the Destination Moon Virtual Tour using your favorite assistive technology. If you have comments or questions about this tour, please contact ...