AirSpace

50 Years: Opening Day 25.06.2026 27min

On July 1, 1976, the National Air and Space Museum opened its doors to the public. It was an unforgettable debut for an iconic building, complete with a flyover from the Air Force’s Thunderbirds, speeches from President Gerald Ford (and a certain Apollo astronaut), and a ribbon-cutting triggered by a signal from a spacecraft on its way to Mars. There was nothing quite like the National Air and Space Museum at the time, and thousands of people lined up on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to be among the first to see artifacts like the Spirit of St Louis, the Apollo command module Columbia, and the Wright Flyer in the new building. Millions more have come through our doors over the last 50 years, and the Museum has continued to reinvent itself for future generations. Today on AirSpace, we’re launching our four-part limited series 50 Years of Air + Space with the story of our Museum’s Opening Day. Thanks to all our guests in this episode (by order of appearance): Dr. Bob van der Linden - Acting Chair of Aeronautics Dr. Ted Maxwell - Retired Chair of the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies Dr. Tom Crouch - Emeritus Curator Dr. Cathleen Lewis - Curator of International Space Programs and Spacesuits Dr. Michael Neufeld - Emeritus Curator and Smithsonian Historian Dr. Lonnie G Bunch III - Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/50YearsE1. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter. AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

AirSpace Bonus! Sidedoor: The Wright Sister 11.06.2026 40min

We'll be back soon with new episodes of AirSpace! In the mean time, here's a treat from our friends at Sidedoor. Orville and Wilbur Wright have been immortalized as the men who opened the skies to human flight. But could they have achieved such great heights without the wind beneath their wings—their sister? Katharine Wright was her brothers' biggest champion, official spokesperson, closest confidante, and the only one of the Wright siblings with a college degree. For years, Katharine, Wilbur, and Orville were inseparable—until tragedy and a love affair upended everything. This is the story of the Wright sibling that history almost left out. Guests: Thomas Paone, curator at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Tom Crouch, curator emeritus of the aeronautics division at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum and author of The Bishop’s Boys: A Life of Wilbur and Orville Wright You can find the transcript of this episode and more information on our website.

AirSpace Revisited: How Do You Sleep? 28.05.2026 26min

One of the most commonly asked questions about living and working in space is where and how the astronauts sleep. Watching the astronauts set up their sleeping arrangements on the recent Artemis II mission around the moon got us thinking about this topic again, so we're revisiting a favorite episode from 2022. Sleeping in space goes back almost as far as there have been people in space (specifically, a cosmonaut who caught some shuteye in 1961). Astronauts have slept in capsules, shuttles, space stations, and even on the Moon. Sleep is an important part of an astronaut’s health, particularly for longer duration missions. But from noisy crewmates to spaceship sounds and even the sheer excitement of it all, sleeping in space hasn’t always been easy. To find out what it’s really like, we speak with former astronaut Mike Massimino who relates his shuttle sleeping experience to a big slumber party. We’re catching Zs in zero-G, today on AirSpace. Thanks to our guest in this episode: Mike Massimino, former astronaut Find the transcript for this episode and more information at https://s.si.edu/AirSpaceSleep. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter.

Whirly-Girl #13 14.05.2026 27min

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, helicopters were creating quite a buzz. After limited use during World War II, manufacturers ramped up production and enthusiasm for vertical flight soared. Although the dream of “a helicopter in every garage” never quite materialized, more civilian pilots earned their helicopter ratings. One of them was Jean Ross Howard, who became the 13th woman in the world to do so. In 1955, Jean brought together every woman helicopter pilot she could find to form an organization known as the Whirly-Girls. Today on AirSpace, Matt and Emily take a whirlwind tour of 20th-century helicopter history with the Museum’s curator of vertical flight, before diving into the story of the Whirly-Girls—from their founding and early years to the work the organization continues to do today. Thanks to our guest in this episode: Dr. Roger Connor, Curator of Vertical Flight, National Air and Space Museum Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/AirSpaceS11E12. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter. AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

Snoopy in the Sky 23.04.2026 21min

IT'S A BIRD! IT'S A PLANE! IT'S A . . . DOGHOUSE? Throughout Charles Schulz's Peanuts stories, Snoopy has used his incomparable imagination to go on iconic aviation and space adventures. He's transformed himself into a World War I flying ace, a charter pilot, an astronaut, and even a helicopter. Today on AirSpace, we learn how Charlie Brown's best friend Snoopy became a bona fide aerospace legend. We also learn about his impact on real-life aerospace industry and culture, including as a symbol of flight safety at NASA and a very special role on the uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022. Thanks to our guests in this episode: Benjamin Clark, Curator at the Charles Schulz Museum Melissa Menta, SVP of Global Brands and Communications for Peanuts Worldwide Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/AirSpaceS11E11. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter. To learn even more about Snoopy in space, check out this article from Air & Space Quarterly. AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

GO, SPEED RACERS! The 1929 Women's Air Derby 09.04.2026 27min

SPEED . . . SKILL . . . SABOTAGE? In August 1929, twenty pilots took off from Santa Monica in a historic and thrilling air race. The all-female lineup—including big names like Amelia Earhart, Pancho Barnes, and Louise Thaden—hopped from city to city across the U.S. on their way to the finish line in Cleveland. Though it was dismissed by some at the time as the "Powder Puff Derby," the Women's Air Derby of 1929 was a major race between world-class pilots. It was also a national sensation at a time when pilots like Earhart and Barnes were genuine celebrities. And as if the race itself wasn't exciting enough, rumors of sabotage swirl to this day... Today on AirSpace: Matt and Emily are joined by aeronautics curator Caroline Tapp to learn all about the Women's Air Derby of 1929. Listen to find out who won, what happened along the way, and how the derby changed the way people thought about women pilots. Thanks to our guests in this episode: Caroline Tapp, Aeronautics Curator, National Air and Space Museum Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/AirSpaceS11E10. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter. AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

A Tale of Two Satellites 26.03.2026 40min

In the Cold War, space was a new and critical frontier for intelligence. Many early satellites were spy satellites (although they did a bit of science, too). In this episode, we learn about two early U.S. spy satellite programs, GRAB and CORONA. We learn what motivated these programs, why they were so important to future satellite development, and how to recover film capsules mid-air using a gigantic hook on the bottom of a plane. Thanks to our guests in this episode: Keith Masback, intelligence expert Andrew Ross, Guggenheim Fellow, National Air and Space Museum Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/airspaces11e9. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter. AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

Scandalous 12.03.2026 25min

Today on AirSpace: the scandal of the century! Matt and Emily are joined by friend of the show and Museum curator Bob van der Linden to learn all the twists and turns of the Air Mail Crisis of 1934. The controversy centered on one question: who should fly the mail? Conflicts between brand-new commercial airlines, Congress, and the Roosevelt administration reached a boiling point that led to lucrative contracts being cancelled and the disastrous involvement of the Army Air Corps. In the aftermath, new regulation shaped commercial flight and the Postal Service for generations. This story is a political drama, a postal drama, AND an aviation drama. What more can you ask for? Thanks to our guest in this episode: Dr. Bob van der Linden, Curator for Commercial Aviation, National Air and Space Museum Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/airspaces11e8. To learn even more about the Air Mail Crisis, check out the Museum's website. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter. AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

Kings of the Capsule 26.02.2026 38min

July 24th, 1969. After their historic mission to the Moon’s surface and back, there was one final step in the Apollo 11 mission: splashdown. As the command module floated (gracefully, we are sure) in the Pacific Ocean, a team of elite Navy divers known as Frogmen swam up to help the astronauts safely and securely onto a helicopter that would take them to the USS Hornet. Today on AirSpace, we hear from three of the Frogmen who plucked the Apollo astronauts out of the drink (and may have engaged in some horseplay on the floating capsule). We also hear from our Museum’s own Apollo Curator about the details of this critical final stage in the Apollo missions, and what to expect when capsules full of Artemis astronauts start splashing down this decade. Thanks to our guests in this episode: Dr. Teasel Muir-Harmony, Apollo Curator- National Air and Space Museum John Wolfram, former Navy Frogman Clancy Hatleberg, former Navy Frogman Wes Chesser, former Navy Frogman Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/airspaces11e7. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter. AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

Gone to the Dogs 12.02.2026 31min

Unfortunately, there are still more humans than dogs in the average airport terminal. Still, it’s not uncommon to see dogs as you run to catch your flight. Some dogs, like humans, are just travelers passing through. But others, increasingly, are at the airport to take care of business. Today on AirSpace: it’s Canine Career Day! We discuss the surprisingly wide variety of airport dog jobs, and hear from a few lucky humans about their unique coworkers. Matt and Emily learn about therapy dogs with trading cards; beagles and Labradors sniffing luggage for safety (and prohibited agricultural products); and even an elite doggie duo chasing wildlife off the runway. Thanks to our guests in this episode: Pam Biard, Volunteer, CATS Program, Denver International Airport Chris Keyser, Wildlife Specialist, West Virginia International Yeager Airport Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/airspaces11e6. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter. AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin. AirSpace logo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution. Episode photo courtesy of West Virginia International Yeager Airport (CRW).

AirSpace Live! Cooking in Space 22.01.2026 35min

Space travel is hungry work. Humans have spent nearly six decades experimenting with different ways to feed astronauts (with mixed reviews). As astronauts live and work in space on longer missions further from home, a new generation of chefs and food scientists is thinking outside the box (and can, and tube, and pouch). What if space travelers had kitchens complete with appliances and pantries full of ingredients? In this episode of AirSpace, recorded in front of a live audience at the National Air and Space Museum, Matt and Emily spoke with an expert panel about the past and future of cooking and eating in space. Thanks to our guests in this episode: Chef Charisse Grey, head of Research & Development, José Andrés Group Jim Sears, CEO and founder, SATED Space Margaret Weitekamp, curator and chair of Space History, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/airspaces11e5. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter. AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

Movie Mini: Arrival 08.01.2026 23min

Science fiction heroes aren't usually humanities professors, but Arrival (2016) is the exception to that rule. Amy Adams stars as Dr. Louise Banks, who may be the only person on Earth who can figure out what a pair of mysterious aliens are trying to say. Today on AirSpace, Matt and Emily discuss the film, its source material (Ted Chiang's novella Story of Your Life), linguistics, non-linear time, extraterrestrials, explosions, geopolitical tension, oat milk, and other mysteries of the universe. The transcript for this episode is at s.si.edu/airspaces11e4 Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter. AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

Miasma of Incandescent Plasma 25.12.2025 24min

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how we wonder . . . well, where to even begin? How do stars form from gas and dust? Why do some stars go supernova? And what the heck is the "main sequence?" We brought in one of the Museum's astronomy educators for a stellar conversation about the birth, life, and death of stars. There's plenty to learn, and even more to wonder about, today on AirSpace. Thanks to our guest in this episode: Shauna Edson, Astronomy Educator, National Air and Space Museum The transcript for this episode is at s.si.edu/airspaces11e3. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter. AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

The Journey of a Suitcase 11.12.2025 24min

Have you ever wondered what happens to your checked bag once you've handed it over to the airline? Us too! We took a field trip to Dulles Airport to visit our friends at United Airlines and find out. Today on AirSpace, follow a suitcase on its journey from check-in through TSA, airline sorting, handling on the aircraft, and back to you on the baggage carousel. Thanks to our guest in this episode: Jim Decker, Director of Ramp Operations for United Airlines at Dulles International Airport The transcript for this episode is at s.si.edu/airspaces11e2 Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter. AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

Eye of the Hurricane 27.11.2025 35min

SEEKING: full time aviators slash weather enthusiasts for unique opportunity. SCHEDULE: hurricane season. WORK SITE: Lakeland, FL; Biloxi, MS; and the eye of a hurricane. Members of the Air Force and NOAA Corps spend months each year flying back and forth through hurricanes collecting information vital to weather prediction. On the Season 11 premiere of AirSpace, we talk to three of them and get the download on what it takes to do that job. Thanks to our guests in this episode: Lieutenant Colonel Mark Withee, Air Force 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Commander Kevin Doremus, NOAA Corps Lieutenant Thomas Smith, NOAA Corps The transcript for this episode is at s.si.edu/airspaces11e1. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter. AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

AirSpace Bonus! There's More to That: Auroras 09.10.2025 30min

AirSpace will be back with Season 11 very soon. In the meantime we thought y'all would enjoy this episode from the Smithsonian Magazine's podcast, There's More to That: Why Auroras Are Suddenly Everywhere All at Once. For millennia, auroras have both enchanted and haunted human beings. Ancient lore is filled with myths attempting to explain what caused the celestial phenomenon. More recent historic documentation of auroras may even help us predict damaging solar storms in the future. As we head into a year expected to bring the best northern lights in two decades, we consider the science behind auroras and why they are suddenly so plentiful—even in places that hardly qualify as northern. In this episode, Jo Marchant, author of The Human Cosmos, and Smithsonian science editor Carlyn Kranking revel in auroras through the ages and explain how to view these dazzling displays yourself.

Home Front: Anything-to-Anywhere 25.09.2025 35min

The Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) are relatively well-known in the U.S. today (to hear more about their story, see our previous episode), but they weren't the only women who flew planes in World War II. A small group of Americans joined pilots from 25 other countries in England's Air Transport Auxiliary, where they ferried hundreds of thousands of planes across the British Isles. Among the pilots were women from all countries and men too old or otherwise unfit for active duty (including a WWI Ace with only one eye and arm). They braved poor weather, mechanically iffy planes, regular bombings, and dangerous conditions to keep the Allies in the air. Thanks to our guests in this episode Becky Aikman, Author of Spitfires: The American Women who Flew in the Face of Danger During WWII Richard Poad, organizer, Air Transport Auxiliary Museum at the Maidenhead Heritage Centre Oral histories in the episode came from the NASA Oral History Project and the TWU Libraries Women's Collection at Texas Women's University. The transcript for this episode is at s.si.edu/homefront4 Sign up for our monthly newsletter here s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter AirSpace is made possible by generous support from Lockheed Martin

Home Front: Eyes on the Coast 10.09.2025 26min

Just off the coast of the United States, a menace lurked in the water. German U-boats were a very real problem for merchant vessels and war ships during World War II. With all available military airplanes and pilots needed on the front lines, and the Coast Guard mostly lacking aviation assets, the U.S. needed to get creative. Enter: the brand new Civil Air Patrol. This entirely civilian effort put private planes and pilots to work spotting U-Boats and other threats in the water. They even carried bombs on coastal patrols. The CAP also did search and rescue, medical flights, border patrol and more--roles the organization still serves today. Thanks to our guest in this episode Dr. Frank Blazich of the Civil Air Patrol and the Smithsonian's American History Museum You can find the transcript for this episode at s.si.edu/homefront3 Sign up for our monthly newsletter s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Lockheed Martin

Home Front: 50,000 Planes 28.08.2025 25min

In 1940, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt broadcast a new goal in one of his famous Fireside Chats: he wanted to see 50,000 planes a year built in the United States. Up until that point, the U.S. had built just over 30,000 military planes . . . total. 50,000 seemed like an impossible goal. But with war looming, "Rosie" rolled up her sleeves and said "We can do it!" And she did. Millions of war workers flooded cities and factories to take jobs not open to them before the war, turning out plane after plane to support the war effort. Manufacturing, labor, and the aviation industry would never be the same. Thanks to our guests in this episode "Rosie" Erlinda Avila who bucked rivets in Goodyear, Arizona Cory Graff, Curator and Restoration Manager- National World War II Museum Dr. Jeremy Kinney, Associate Director for Research, Collections and Curatorial Affairs- National Air and Space Museum Transcript for this epside is at s.si.edu/homefront2 Sign up for our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Lockheed Martin

Home Front: Students of the Air 14.08.2025 19min

In 1937, there were fewer than 20,000 licensed pilots in the United States. The Civilian Pilot Training Program increased that number to more than 400,000 in less than five years. With national "airmindedness" as their goal in the run-up to World War II, the US government created the program to train students (10% of whom could be women) on the ground and in the air at colleges and universities across the country. Later on, trainees had to enlist after training, which meant women were barred. Throughout this limited series, almost every pilot we’ll meet either got their flight training with the CPTP, or taught for the program. Many of them would go on to find work in commercial aviation and reshape the field into the Jet Age. Thanks to our guest in this episode Dorothy Cochrane - National Air and Space Museum Find the transcript of this episode at s.si.edu/homefront1 Sign up for our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter Home Front is made possible by the generous support of Lockheed Martin