Due to the government shutdown, we are temporarily closed beginning on Sunday, Oct. 12, along with Smithsonian museums, research centers, and the National Zoo. We will update our operating status as soon as the situation is resolved. We do not plan to update social media other

Neptune's largest moon Triton was discovered #OTD in 1846. It is the only large moon in our solar system that orbits in the opposite direction of its planet's rotation. This photo of Triton was taken by Voyager 2 in 1989.

On #TDIH in 1963, the original Mercury 7 astronauts received the 1962 Collier Trophy for "pioneering manned space flight in the United States." It was the first time the Collier Trophy was awarded to an American space mission.

“My mantra is ‘Querer es poder.’ I believe everyone has the potential to do it. They just have to believe in themselves enough to actually do it.” Custodio went on to become the first Latina US military pilot and served in the US Air Force for 24 years. #HispanicHeritageMonth

#OTD in 1936, the Hindenburg “Millionaires’ Flight" passed over New England with Juan Trippe, Eddie Rickenbacker, and more aboard. The ten-hour flight toured over six states.

On #TDIH in 1959, Vertol turned over the VZ-2 vertical landing and takeoff aircraft to @NASA_Langley to conduct flight tests. NASA conducted the Army's share of the flight tests because the service did not have pilots qualified to fly VTOL aircraft: https://t.co/NWORZG25EH

One last dance. #OTD in 1999, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird flew for the last time. It remains one of the most popular aircraft of all time. You can see a Blackbird on display at our Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia: https://t.co/wGR18SxFee

A few last-minute tickets have been released for tonight's Air and Space After Hours event! Explore our new exhibitions at this free 21+ event featuring curator chats, planetarium shows, and themed food and drinks. Snag your ticket: https://t.co/fbiK7rbOAs

In 2022, Katya Echazarreta became the first Mexican-born woman to go to space. Her trip on Blue Origin’s sub-orbital NS-21 mission was sponsored by Space for Humanity’s citizen astronaut program. Echazarreta has loaned her spacesuit to the Museum and it is currently on display

In October 1940, the Vought XF4U-1 Corsair prototype made history as the first single-engine U.S. fighter to fly faster than 400 mph. This F4U-1D (a later production variant) is currently on display at our Udvar-Hazy Center: https://t.co/NrtSNCPGtZ

Smithsonian Secretary and scientific figure Samuel P. Langley attempted to fly his Aerodrome A on this week in history in 1903. The result? It crashed on takeoff and is said to have entered the water "like a handful of mortar."

#OTD in 1951, Congressman Peter Mack left in the Beechcraft 35 Bonanza "Friendship Flame" on a round-the-world goodwill tour, visiting 31 countries on three continents. The aircraft is on display in our "One World Connected" gallery: https://t.co/UFulFNNMLJ

40 years ago today, Space Shuttle Atlantis completed its first mission (STS-51J) when it landed at Edwards Air Force Base.

The first flight of a Lear Jet was recorded on #TDIH in 1963, when Prototype Model 23, N801L, took to the sky. The Museum's Lear Jet is the second Model 23 built (after the first was destroyed in a crash) and is on display in "Thomas W. Haas We All Fly."

Only a lucky few will have an opportunity to experience spaceflight as astronauts. For the rest of us, experiencing simulated missions at Space Camp is the next best thing. Building model rockets like this one is one way campers refine their passion for spaceflight.

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by an American. His mission aboard the International Space Station lasted 371 days. Before becoming an astronaut, Rubio was a physician, flight surgeon, and helicopter pilot. #HispanicHeritageMonth

The first discovery of a planet orbiting a Sun-like star, not in our own solar system, was announced on 30 years ago today. The groundbreaking discovery launched a new era in the search for exoplanets. Learn more about finding them: https://t.co/rCwAidDFhy

35 years ago today, Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-41) launched with the Ulysses solar spacecraft as its primary payload, which was designed to explore the heliosphere of the Sun.

On this day in 1922, a flight endurance record was set by Lt John A. Macready and Lt Oakley G. Kelly as they flew 35 hours and 18 minutes in a Fokker T-2. The aircraft featured a wooden monoplane wing spanning nearly 82 feet: https://t.co/J7REY50iCb

The STS-41G mission, which launched on this day in 1984, was marked by a series of firsts: 7️⃣ - First seven-person crew 🇨🇦 - First Canadian astronaut 🇦🇺 - First Australian-born person in space 🧔 - First astronaut to launch with a beard 👩‍🚀 - First crew with two women