Practicing with a mockup of the <i>Spirit </i> rover n the "sandbox" at NASA

Space Exploration

Then and Now: Joy to the World

January 2010 | By Roger A. Mola

The Soviet Skif-DM used for testing atmospheric effects on lasers were rare birds: space weapon research projects that actually made it to the launch pad.

In The Museum: Toilet Training

September 2009 | 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.
November 2009 | By Andrew Chaikin

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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

Air & Space Interview

Chinese Test Pilot Yang Guoxiang

The H-bomb that almost backfired.

New Worlds

Confidence Booster

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

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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.

NASA's Mars rover prepares to escape the worst trouble of its life. November 2009 | By Tony Reichhardt

Which way lies our future in space? A discussion. June 2008 | By Tony Reichhardt

Some people go to Las Vegas to gamble, others to learn about Mars. September 2009 | By Tony Reichhardt

When it’s not the journey but the destination that counts. September 2009 | By Michael Klesius

January 2010 | By Roger A. Mola

The launch that saved the world from orbiting laser battle stations. January 2010 | By Dwayne A. Day And Robert G. Kennedy III

After 2010, the only spaceplane in the U.S. inventory will be the Air Force's mysterious X-37. January 2010 | By Michael Klesius

A small band of believers urges NASA to take its next step—onto an asteroid. July 2008 | By Michael Klesius

September 2009 | By Rebecca Maksel

For that satellite dish on your roof and the phone calls you make to Japan, you can thank Harold Rosen. September 2009 | By Guy Gugliotta

How can we find other Earths if their suns keep blinding us? September 2009 | By Tony Reichhardt

Bill Elkins has been outfitting astronauts since before NASA was born. June 2009 | 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. July 2009 | By Guy Gugliotta

Armed with their checklists, the Apollo astronauts literally read themselves to the moon. July 2009 | By Matthew Hersch

In the 1950s Harvey Allen solved the problem of atmospheric entry. But first he had to convince his colleagues. November 2009 | By Andrew Chaikin

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Air & Space Interview

New Worlds

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NASA's Mars rover prepares to escape the worst trouble of its life.
November 2009 | By Tony Reichhardt

Which way lies our future in space? A discussion.
June 2008 | By Tony Reichhardt

Some people go to Las Vegas to gamble, others to learn about Mars.
September 2009 | By Tony Reichhardt

When it’s not the journey but the destination that counts.
September 2009 | By Michael Klesius

The launch that saved the world from orbiting laser battle stations.
January 2010 | By Dwayne A. Day And Robert G. Kennedy III

After 2010, the only spaceplane in the U.S. inventory will be the Air Force's mysterious X-37.
January 2010 | By Michael Klesius

A small band of believers urges NASA to take its next step—onto an asteroid.
July 2008 | By Michael Klesius

For that satellite dish on your roof and the phone calls you make to Japan, you can thank Harold Rosen.
September 2009 | By Guy Gugliotta

How can we find other Earths if their suns keep blinding us?
September 2009 | By Tony Reichhardt

Bill Elkins has been outfitting astronauts since before NASA was born.
June 2009 | By Michael Klesius

We’re about to get a peek at the solar system’s final frontier.
July 2009 | By Guy Gugliotta

Armed with their checklists, the Apollo astronauts literally read themselves to the moon.
July 2009 | By Matthew Hersch

In the 1950s Harvey Allen solved the problem of atmospheric entry. But first he had to convince his colleagues.
November 2009 | By Andrew Chaikin