National Air and Space Museum

The “TEXTRON How Things Fly” exhibition features a full-scale Cessna Skyhawk that visitors can climb into, manipulating the yoke and rudder pedals to get the ailerons, elevator and rudder to move. You can learn about an airplane’s controls — or just take the perfect selfie!

The “TEXTRON How Things Fly” exhibition features a full-scale Cessna Skyhawk that visitors can climb into, manipulating the yoke and rudder pedals to get the ailerons, elevator and rudder to move. You can learn about an airplane’s controls — or just take the perfect selfie!

It may not look like much, but this is the first close-up image ever taken of Mars. On this day in 1965, Mariner 4 became the first spacecraft to fly by Mars and capture a close-up image of its surface: s.si.edu/44nOROz

On this day in 1924, three Douglas World Cruisers on their historic around-the-world flight arrived in Paris to a welcome from cheering crowds celebrating #BastilleDay.

On this day in 1969, the Soviet Union's uncrewed space mission Luna 15 launched to the Moon. Its aim was to land on the Moon two hours after Apollo 11's lunar module Eagle — a goal they did not achieve: s.si.edu/46k4cSd

A massive airship called Tiny... On this day in 1919, the Royal Air Force's R34 rigid airship made its return trip back to the United Kingdom from the United States, marking the first roundtrip airship flight across the Atlantic.

Discovery v Woodpeckers On this day in 1995, Space Shuttle Discovery launched on STS-70 after a multi-week delay caused by Northern Flicker woodpeckers at Pad 39B who poked about 200 holes in the foam insulation of Discovery's external tank.

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Can someone from the @airandspace museum explain why the “Infant Care Lounge” has neither changing tables nor trash cans?

"TEXTRON How Things Fly" is the Museum’s most interactive, hands-on exhibition. Nearly 50 interactives work together with featured artifacts to teach visitors of all ages about the forces of lift, weight, drag, and thrust. Learn more: s.si.edu/4w0wUmV

In 1944, this Mitsubishi A6M5 Reisen (Zero) was captured on Saipan Island and sent to the United States for evaluation. A little over a year later, on July 13, 1945, it reached 93 hours and 15 minutes of flight time in Allied hands. #AirSpacePhoto

25 years ago today, Space Shuttle Atlantis launched on STS-104. Its primary mission was to deliver and install the International Space Station's primary airlock. This incredible photo of the launch was taken by an unidentified NASA photographer.

On this day in 1957, Dwight D. Eisenhower became the first U.S. president to fly in a helicopter while in office aboard this Bell H-13J, on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia. More on the blog: s.si.edu/44KKn67 🚁 #AirSpacePhoto

On this day in 1963, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) launched the first GAMBIT-1 photoreconnaissance satellite. It was designed to take photographs at a higher ground resolution than other photoreconnaissance satellites. Read the blog: s.si.edu/3NUSAvU

In honor of our 50th anniversary, check out our latest family-friendly activities for your kids featuring iconic artifacts in our collection: s.si.edu/4pgApDf Sponsored by @northropgrumman

Our French twin-engine Caudron G.4 is among the oldest surviving bomber aircraft in the world, and one of the very few remaining multi-engine aircraft from the World War I period. Given to the Smithsonian today in 1918, you can now see it at the Udvar-Hazy Center. #AirSpacePhoto

Lucky number 1️⃣3️⃣ Our Sikorsky JRS-1 was the thirteenth built, completed on this day in 1938. It is the only surviving JRS-1, and is the only aircraft in our collection present at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941: s.si.edu/3yNfdJA #AirSpacePhoto

This week in 2010, ESA's Rosetta spacecraft captured this image of asteroid Lutetia during a close flyby.

As we wrap up our week spotlighting the new "RTX Living in the Space Age Hall," check out this new blog providing a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into creating an exhibition of this scale: s.si.edu/3TtBwDA

On this day in 1979, Skylab, the first U.S. space station, reentered Earth's atmosphere and disintegrated. More about the history of Skylab: s.si.edu/45YDSNa

This week in 1942, the Douglas A-26 Invader flew for the first time. 📸: 1945 photo from our Archives of an A-26B Invader in flight