Jingle Bells... in space! 60 years ago this week, the crew of Gemini VI made the first musical interlude from space. They pretended to see a "satellite going from north to south, probably in polar orbit" 🎅 and started playing Jingle Bells on a harmonica and bell set.

🎶 I don't know about you, but I'm feeling twenty-two! 🎶 Happy 22nd birthday to our Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center! 🎂 Near Dulles Airport in northern Virginia, our second location opened #OTD in 2003 and has seen millions of amazing visitors since.

The original 6️⃣ 7️⃣ 60 years ago today, Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford launched on the Gemini VI mission to rendezvous with Gemini VII (which had launched on December 4). This was the world's first space rendezvous: https://t.co/PQO4rUp3Qs

On this day in 1984, the Soviet Union launched the Vega 1 spacecraft, the first of two in a mission to fly by Venus and Halley's Comet. These Vega Solar System Probe Bus and Landing Apparatus engineering models are on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center: https://t.co/NtcuUBipaX

This week in 1993, Space Shuttle Endeavour landed, completing the first Hubble servicing mission, STS-61. Pictured here are some photo highlights from the successful mission.

On this day in 1986, Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager departed in the Rutan Voyager on the first nonstop, non-refueled flight around the world. Voyager was one of the first aircraft constructed almost entirely of lightweight graphite-honeycomb composite materials.

These boots took the last steps on the Moon on this day in 1972 when Apollo 17 astronaut Gene Cernan became the last person to walk on the Moon. The lunar overshoes are on display in the "Destination Moon" gallery at the Museum in DC.

Mariner 2 flew by Venus #OTD in 1962, becoming the first successful mission to another planet and the first spacecraft to radio useful scientific data to Earth from the vicinity of another planet. #AirSpacePhoto

On this day in 1903, the Wright brothers made a brief 3.5-second first flight attempt in the 1903 Wright Flyer. The Flyer's performance inspired Wilbur Wright to note “There is now no question of final success.” He would be proven correct three days later.

On December 14, 1972, the Apollo 17 lunar module "Challenger" departed the Moon with Harrison Schmitt and Gene Cernan, the last astronauts to walk on the Moon. LM liftoff was captured by a camera on the LRV that was left behind. More on how it was done: https://t.co/bjvXDMayPj

Apollo 17 carried the only trained geologist to walk on the lunar surface, lunar module pilot Harrison Schmitt. In this video from the mission, Schmitt excitedly throws the geology hammer at the end of the third EVA.

On this day in 1927, Charles Lindbergh departed in Spirit of St. Louis on a nonstop flight from DC to Mexico City on a Central and South American goodwill tour. Beginning in Mexico City, he painted flags of the countries he visited on the cowling of the aircraft. #AirSpacePhoto

Looking for indoor plans this chilly Saturday? Join us at today's Soar Together family day at the Museum in DC to discover how computers help us navigate our world—from smart homes to space shuttles & more. Get free tickets: https://t.co/K7empZrVAw Sponsored by @NorthropGrumman

Today in 1938, the Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa prototype was completed. The Japanese fighter surprised Allied pilots when they first encountered it because intelligence specialists vastly underestimated the capabilities of Japan's aircraft industry.

Good old duct tape saved the day during Apollo 17 on #TDIH in 1972. The Apollo 17 astronauts had to create a replacement fender for the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) while on the Moon, using only materials they had with them. Read the full blog for more: https://t.co/UHOtfZHvql

Built for only $63... OSCAR 1 is the world's first amateur, non-government satellite, which launched on #OTD in 1961. It operated for nearly 20 days, during which thousands of radio operators in 28 countries detected the satellite's "hi-hi" message: https://t.co/XzpsSMJVLs

Moments after ignition #OTD in 1965, one of Gemini VI's engines suddenly shut down. Astronauts Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford waited tensely inside for a plan to get them out of the life-threatening situation. More on the blog: https://t.co/pb10K7EWop

Chuck Yeager piloted Bell X-1A to Mach 2.44 on #TDIH in 1953—a new record for piloted aircraft at the time. After reaching Mach 2.44, the X-1A tumbled out of control, twice reaching 8 Gs. Yeager recovered from inverted spin and landed the aircraft. 📸: Bell X-1A in flight

On this day in 1959, Joseph Kittinger made the second high-altitude jump of Project Excelsior. Kittinger took off from Holloman AFB in New Mexico in his Excelsior II balloon, and at 74,700 feet, stepped off the open gondola, free falling to earth before opening his parachute.

On this day in 1998, the Mars Climate Orbiter launched aboard a Delta II rocket. Communication with the spacecraft was lost during orbital insertion when it reached Mars the following year.