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FORGOTTEN HISTORY: The national air and space museum | History Defined

Artemis II’s long countdown – a space historian explains why it has taken over 50 years to return to the Moon

While I was leading a tour of the National Air and Space Museum in January 2026, a visitor posed this insightful question: “Why has it taken so long to return to the Moon?”

The Conversation

Trump isn’t the first US politician to pick a fight with the Smithsonian. But this time could be different

Trump isn’t the first US politician to pick a fight with the Smithsonian. But this time could be different

United States President Donald Trump first signalled his intention to target the Smithsonian Institution in March, when he signed an executive order titled Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.

The Conversation

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum reopens 5 renovated galleries starring SpaceX rocket parts, a 3D-printed Mars habitat and more

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum reopens 5 renovated galleries starring SpaceX rocket parts, a 3D-printed Mars habitat and more

Hundreds of people lined up outside of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Monday (July 28) to see five newly renovated galleries devoted to aviation and space exploration history.

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National Air and Space Museum to reveal more renovated galleries on July 28

Hundreds of space artifacts are set to return to or debut on display with the opening of five reimagined galleries at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. this summer.

NASA's Robonaut-2 reunited with its ride into space at Smithsonian

NASA's space shuttle Discovery has been reunited with one of its last crew members. The National Air and Space Museum debuted Robonaut-2 (R2), NASA's first dexterous humanoid robot flown into space.

Blue Origin donates New Shepard rocket and crew capsule to Smithsonian

Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos once pledged that if his company's first rocket to reach space and land vertically back on Earth survived, he would put it in a museum. He has made good on his word.

NASA donates Ingenuity Mars Helicopter prototype to Smithsonian

The Smithsonian would love to display the first vehicle to achieve powered flight on another world, but with Ingenuity still busy on Mars, the institution has accepted the next best thing.

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1st Barbie dolls to fly into space make their debut at Smithsonian Air and Space Museum

1st Barbie dolls to fly into space make their debut at Smithsonian Air and Space Museum

The National Air and Space Museum debuted the first Barbie dolls to fly in space. They appear to be like all of the other Barbie "Space Discovery" dolls found in stores, and that may be the point.

Sally's Night events mark 40 years since 1st US woman flew in space

Sally's Night events mark 40 years since 1st US woman flew in space

From an afternoon at the ballpark to Afternoon Tea, museums and science centers are celebrating Sally's Night and the 40th anniversary of Sally Ride becoming the first American woman in space.

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