Did you know that it takes the Earth 365-ish days to orbit the sun? It’s that ‘ish’ that makes February 29 a thing every four years. We talk to one of the Museum’s astronomy educators to get the low down on Leap Day.

Thanks to Astronomy Educator Shauna Brandt Edson for joining Emily for this episode.

Sign up here for the monthly AirSpace newsletter

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Leap Day Bonus: Accounting for the Ish

Afrofuturism is a cultural movement that explores the possibilities of Black futures and pasts and presents through art, literature, music, film and pop culture. And a lot of Afrofuturism has a lot of space in it. Today we're talking about Afrofuturist space and Afronauts and walking through the Afrofuturism exhibit by our friends at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

Dr. Kevin Strait, Curator National Museum of African American History and Culture

Tim Fielder, Author and Artists Matty’s Rocket

Sign up here for the monthly AirSpace newsletter

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Liberation through Exploration

Hollywood is in love with airports and airplanes and we are too! How many rom-coms can you name where the meet cute, the almost meet, the epic chase or the long distance relationships happens thanks to a terminal or twist of fate seat assignment? We can name at least six. And if we missed your favorite, drop us a comment on Instagram or Twitter!

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Scott Meslow, Author From Hollywood with Love: The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of the Romantic Comedy

Sign up here for the monthly AirSpace newsletter

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Love at First Flight

From when it started in 1981, MTV used an iconic neon scribbled astronaut as its channel ID for years. And even today the award you get when you win a VMA is a statuette of an Apollo era astronaut, but why is MTV obsessed with the Moonman? And why do we have two of those statuettes in our collection? We're digging into the history of cable's giant leap, today on AirSpace

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Dr. Margaret Weitekamp, National Air and Space Museum Space History Chair

Sign up here for the monthly AirSpace newsletter

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Video Killed the Radio Star

Hurricanes are a fact of life in the Caribbean but in 2017, the season was so bad that it changed everything for the people of Puerto Rico. Only two weeks after another major hurricane, Maria barreled into the island bringing more than 200 mile per hour winds, rain and flooding. In the aftermath, the Coast Guard with their helicopters are crucial to search and rescue, aid drops and surveying damage. We spoke to two Coast Guard members, as well as one of our own colleagues, about what the hurricane was like, and what happened after.

We’re joined by Vanessa Parés, Digitization Coordinator NASM

Thanks to our guests for this episode:


Captain Ed Aponte, U.S. Coast Guard
Avionics Technician First Class Mari DeLong, U.S. Coast Guard


Sign up here for the monthly AirSpace newsletter

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Eye from Above

In January 1942 a B-314 flying boat operated by Pan American World Airways landed in New York after making arguably the first around the world flight by a commercial airliner. But when they set out from San Francisco in 1941, they never intended to hold that record. Trapped in the Pacific by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Captain Bob Ford and his crew were forced to return home flying west. It took them more than a month and several tight spots to get their important aircraft back to the U.S. 

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

Ed Dover, former Pan Am Radio Operator and Author of The Long Way Home: A Journey into History with Captain Robert Ford

Sign up here for the monthly AirSpace newsletter

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

31,500 Miles

In a lot of political and financial circles space exploration is often talked about in terms of human space exploration VERSUS robotic space travel. But most scientists and engineers who work on space missions think this question is better answered with a yes, and. We're diving into the pros, cons and uses of both human and robotic space exploration today on AirSpace.

We’re joined by Dr Erica Jawin, Postdoctoral Research Geologist at NASM’s Center for Planetary Studies

Thanks to our guests for this episode:


Dr Brett Denevi, Geology Lead Artemis III, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab
Bobak Ferdowsi, Systems Engineer on Robotic Space Missions


Sign up here for the monthly AirSpace newsletter

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

These Are the Droids We're Working With

Today is a very special day, parade day of course! The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a holiday staple for almost 100 years, and the balloons have been a part of it for nearly as long. We got the download on these helium-filled works of art that aren't all that different from the hot-air cousins.

Thanks to our guest on this episode:


Kathleen Wright, Director of Production Operation at Macy’s Parade Studios


Sign up here for the monthly AirSpace newsletter

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Don't Rain on my Parade

Space is dangerous. And as long as we've been sending people into space, we've also been thinking about what we can do to make sure they're prepared for it, and make sure they will come home again. The main way that manifests is in training astronauts before they go up, and contingency planning on how to rescue them if something goes awry.

We’re joined by Dr. Emily A. Margolis, Curator of Contemporary Spaceflight.

Thanks to our guests on this episode:


Major Nick Barwikowski, Commander, Army SERE School
Chief Warrant Officer, Retired Mike Christanson, Head Instructor, Army SERE School
Grant Cates, Senior Project Manager at The Aerospace Corporation


Sign up here for the monthly AirSpace newsletter

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

You're on Your Own, Kid

When the Boeing 747 first came out it revolutionized the already revolutionary Jet Age. Able to carry more than twice as many passengers as it's predecessors, the 747 was initally designed for cargo. Boeing thought it would be quickly outstripped by the U.S.'s SST. But when the 'American Concorde' was scrapped in favor of breathable air and no sonic booms over major cities (see our episode Boom, Clap for deets), the 747 became the plane of choice for high passenger load routes. Now that Boeing's retired her, we're looking back on the more than 50 year history of the original Jumbo Jet.

Thanks to our guest on this episode:


Michael Lombardi, Boeing Historian 


Sign up here for the monthly AirSpace newsletter

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

End of an Air-a

Europa Clipper is soon to be on its was to the outer solar system to study one of Jupiter's most interesting moons. In addition to the really awesome science it will do ('sniffing' gases with a mass spectrometer to find out what they're made of?!? How cool is that??), the spacecraft will carry a "message in a bottle" etched with your names and a poem by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón. Icy moons, science, and poetry, all our favorite things!

Thanks to our guest on this episode:


Dr. Bob Pappalardo, JPL, Project Scientist-Europa Clipper


Sign up here for the monthly AirSpace newsletter

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Vast and Beckoning Seas

AirSpace is looking up! (We know, we know, we're usually looking up what with the air and the space-ness of our podcast) But today we're exploring how we hang really big, priceless artifacts from the ceiling in the museum. We asked two friends whose jobs are to do just that to talk to us about just what it takes to put airliners, spacecraft, X-wings and more up on the ceiling.

Thanks to our guests on this episode:


Tony Carp, Museum Specialist, National Air and Space Museum
Hannah O’Toole, Exhibit Designer, National Air and Space Museum


Sign up here for the monthly AirSpace newsletter

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

Dancing on the Ceiling

We’re extending our Hot Barbie Summer by looking back on this gem from season seven.

When Barbie first became an astronaut in 1965, she was more than a decade ahead of NASA sending a woman to space. Since then, there have been several versions of astronaut Barbie — from a spangly 80s doll to one who had a jumpsuit just like the one they give you at Space Camp. Today, astronaut Barbie actually went to the International Space Station! And she's joined by a collection of dolls that represent actual people who really contributed to space science like Sally Ride and Katherine Johnson. We're talking about all those versions of Barbie today on AirSpace. (Follow along with pictures of all of these dolls on our Instagram.)

Sign up here for the monthly AirSpace newsletter

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

AirSpace Revisited - It's a Barbie World and We're All Living in It

Desde que llegó a los cines en 1977, la Guerra de las galaxias ha sido adoptada y adaptada por muchos grupos. En los últimos años, una explosión de películas, series y libros de la Guerra de las galaxias ha aportado más diversidad que nunca al universo. En estos lanzamientos recientes, los actores y las historias latinas han tomado protagonismo. En este episodio de AeroEspacial, nos adentramos en el pasado y el presente de la representación latina en el universo de la Guerra de las galaxias.

Gracias a nuestros invitados en este episodio: 


• Dra. Michelle Martínez, Profesora de Estudios de Cine y Medios de Comunicación en la Universidad Estatal de Arizona

• Dra. Genevieve Carpio, Profesora de Estudios Chicanos de la UCLA

•Daniel José Older, autor y arquitecto de historias

AeroEspacial es una serie de cuatro partes, de AirSpace, que presenta relatos de la historia, cultura y gente latina centradas en la aviación y el espacio. Este proyecto recibió apoyo federal del Fondo de Iniciativas Latinas, administrado por el Museo Nacional del Latino Estadounidense de la Smithsonian.

AirSpace es posible gracias al generoso apoyo de Olay.

AeroEspacial: Haciendo Bustelo Espacial

From the moment it hit theaters in 1977, Star Wars has been adopted and adapted by many groups. In the past several years an explosion of Star Wars movies, shows, and books have brought more diversity into the universe than ever before. In these recent releases, Latino actors and storylines have taken center stage. We're jumping in to the past and present of Latino representation in the Star Wars universe.

Thanks to our guests on this episode:


Dr Michelle Martinez, Instructor of Film and Media Studies Arizona State University
Dr Genevieve Carpio, Professor of Chicano/a Studies UCLA
Daniel José Older, Author and Story Architect


AeroEspacial is a four-part series from AirSpace that presents stories of Latino history, culture, and people at the heart of aviation and space. This limited series received federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

AeroEspacial: Making Space Bustelo

Los artistas con frecuencia utilizan sus medios para contar historias, enviar mensajes o imaginar futuros distintos de nuestro presente. Para los artistas futuristas latinos, recurrir al pasado es clave para crear futuros que conecten el legado, la experiencia y la indigenidad con el presente y el futuro en un constante círculo temporal. En una sociedad que imagina el pasado como historia antigua, estos artistas desafían lo que es el arte y para quién es el arte. En este episodio de AeroEspacial, exploramos este género artístico con artistas y comentaristas de arte.

Le agradecemos a nuestros invitados en este episodio:


Dr. Catherine Sue Ramírez, profesora y catedrática de Estudios Latinoamericanos y Latinos en la Universidad de California, Santa Cruz
Beatriz Cortez, artista multimedia
Clarissa Tossin, artista multimedia


AeroEspacial es una serie de cuatro partes, de AirSpace, que presenta relatos de la historia, cultura y gente latina centradas en la aviación y el espacio. Este proyecto recibió apoyo federal del Fondo de Iniciativas Latinas, administrado por el Museo Nacional del Latino Estadounidense de la Smithsonian.

AirSpace es posible gracias al generoso apoyo de Olay.

AeroEspacial: El Dorado de Posibilidades

Artists frequently use their mediums to tell stories, send messages, or imagine futures unlike our present. For Latino Futurist artists, drawing on the past is key to creating futures that connect heritage, experience, and indigeneity to the present and future in constantly circling time. In a society that imagines the past as ancient history, these artists are challenging what and who art is for. We explore this genre of art with artists and art commentators.

Thanks to our guests on this episode:


Dr Catherine Sue Ramirez, Professor and chair of Latin American and Latino Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz
Beatriz Cortez, multimedia artist
Clarissa Tossin, multimedia artist


AeroEspacial is a four-part series from AirSpace that presents stories of Latino history, culture, and people at the heart of aviation and space. This limited series received federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

AeroEspacial: El Dorado of Possibilities

En 2020, una devastadora rotura de cable significó el final de uno de los radiotelescopios más icónicos del mundo. Protagonizó películas, nos protegió de los asteroides y escuchó en busca de vida extraterrestre. La ciencia hecha en el Observatorio de Arecibo fue y continúa siendo increíblemente importante, y tener el Observatorio en Puerto Rico es un motivo de orgullo para los locales. En el primer episodio de AeroEspacial, le damos un vistazo a la historia, ciencia e importancia social de Arecibo, y hablamos sobre cuál puede ser el próximo capítulo del observatorio.

Gracias a nuestros invitados de este episodio:

-       Dr. Edgard G. Rivera-Valentín, científico planetario 

-       Dr. Christopher Salter, radioastrónomo retirado

-       Dr. Tapasi Ghosh, radioastrónomo retirado

-       Pia Salter-Ghosh, «hija del observatorio»

-       Olga Figeroa Miranda, directora actual del Observatorio de Arecibo

AeroEspacial es una serie de cuatro partes, de AirSpace, que presenta relatos de la historia, cultura y gente latina centradas en la aviación y el espacio. Este proyecto recibió apoyo federal del Fondo de Iniciativas Latinas, administrado por el Museo Nacional del Latino Estadounidense de la Smithsonian.

AirSpace es posible gracias al generoso apoyo de Olay.

AeroEspacial: Desde Puerto Rico con Amor

In 2020, a devastating cable break led to the end of one of the most iconic radio telescopes in the world. It starred in movies, kept us safe from asteroids, and listened for extra-terrestrial life. The science done at Arecibo Observatory was (and continues to be incredibly important), and having the observatory in Puerto Rico is a point of pride for locals. We take a look at the history, science, and social importance of Arecibo, and talk about what the observatory’s next chapter may look like.

Thanks to our guests on this episode:


Dr. Edgard G. Rivera-Valentín, planetary scientist
Dr. Christopher Salter, retired radio astronomer
Dr. Tapasi Ghosh, retired radio astronomer
Pia Salter-Ghosh, “child of the observatory”
Olga Figeroa Miranda, current director of Arecibo Observatory


AeroEspacial is a four-part series from AirSpace that presents stories of Latino history, culture, and people at the heart of aviation and space. This limited series received federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino.

AirSpace is made possible by the generous support of Olay.

AeroEspacial: From Puerto Rico with Love

Se necesita un poco de fe, confianza y una exención de visa. A principio de los sesenta, más de 14,000 niños sin acompañante dejaron Cuba y a sus familias, huyendo del régimen castrista. Estos niños vinieron a los Estados Unidos con exenciones de visa del Gobierno de Estados Unidos en el marco de uno de los programas para refugiados patrocinados por el Estado más grandes en la historia de Estados Unidos. También fueron los primeros refugiados en llegar, en gran parte, en avión. En este episodio de AeroEspacial, contamos algunas de las historias de la Operación Pedro Pan e investigamos las fuerzas que la hicieron única.

Gracias a nuestros invitados de este episodio:


Dr. Victor Triay, autor, profesor de Historia en el Middlesex Community College
Dr. Carlos Eire, profesor de Historia y Ciencias de la Religión en la Universidad de Yale


AeroEspacial es una serie de cuatro partes, de AirSpace, que presenta relatos de la historia, cultura y gente latina centradas en la aviación y el espacio. Este proyecto recibió apoyo federal del Fondo de Iniciativas Latinas, administrado por el Museo Nacional del Latino Estadounidense de Smithsonian.

AirSpace es posible gracias al generoso apoyo de Olay.

Get Started

Download the App