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View of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center tower at sunset

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Visit us in Washington, DC and Chantilly, VA to explore hundreds of the world’s most significant objects in aviation and space history. Free timed-entry passes are required for the Museum in DC.

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Apollo 11: Buzz Aldrin on the Moon

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space shuttle launch

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Women in Aviation and Space Family Day

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Bob Hoover Gives an Air Show Performance

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Inside the Conservation Lab

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Discover stories from work going on inside the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's conservation lab. 

Showing 1 - 10 of 36

View from bottom of Ad Astra installation looking up

Story

Conserving Ad Astra

Posted on Apr 11, 2025

During ongoing renovations to reimagine the Museum's galleries and entryways, the large sculpture Ad Astra was deinstalled and treated by the conservation team. After careful documentation and treatment, the sculpture was reinstalled in front of the new awning at the north entrance on the National Mall.

A person is engaged in assembling a kite structure inside a room, focusing intently on adjusting a component of the structure.

Story

Conserving Historic Aviation Models

Posted on Apr 04, 2025

Over the years the Museum's Conservation Unit has received grant funding from the National Collections Program to help care for our most vulnerable artifacts. These projects showcase the artistry and engineering innovations of early aviation while addressing unique treatment challenges posed by fragile materials and past repairs.

Opened wooden chest commissioned to hold the trophies, plaques, and memorabilia belonging to Amelia Earhart. The chest features motifs highlighting three of Earhart's milestone flights.

Story

Amelia Earhart’s Trophy Chest: An Art Deco Tribute to Her Legacy

Posted on Mar 21, 2025

In preparation for its new display in the Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight gallery, Amelia Earhart's chest came to the Emil Buehler Conservation Laboratory at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center for assessment and treatment.

Detailed view of the cockpit of a vintage aircraft, featuring an array of dials, switches, and controls.

Story

Preserving History at Hypersonic Speeds: A Close-Up Look at the North American X-15

Posted on Feb 13, 2025

Conservators had the rare opportunity to examine the cockpit of the Museum's North American X-15-1, allowing the stabilization of its delicate plastic components. 

A collar photographed in a studio-like setting.

Story

On Elephants and Dirt: Conserving an Elephant Tracking Collar

Posted on Jul 01, 2024

An elephant tracking collar from the Smithsonian Institution’s Conservation Ecology Center at the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is now in the collection of the National Air and Space Museum. Conservation explains why the collar is in the collection, the decision-making behind leaving the dirt on the surface, and how the museum decided to mount the collar for display.

A woman standing and smiling in uniform next to an aircraft.

Story

WASP in Formation: What We Can Learn from Bernice “Bee” Falk Haydu’s WASP Uniform

Posted on Mar 16, 2024

The Conservation team at the Museum recently had the opportunity to examine Haydu’s dress uniform to prepare it for display in the upcoming reimagined Jay I. Kislak World War II in the Air gallery. The artifact not only reflects the changing role of women in American society during WWII but also embodies the technological advancements and global impact of the conflict.

A side by side comparison of a lion.

Story

Conservation Treatment of Gilmore the Flying Lion: Making Decisions

Posted on May 18, 2023

As a cub in the 1930s, Gilmore made aviation history when he traveled around the United States with the flamboyant and colorful aviator Roscoe Turner as a mascot for the Gilmore Oil Company. This is the second in a three-part blog series about the conservation treatment of Gilmore the Flying Lion. Explore how the Museum balanced caring for the original taxidermy with the goal to present Gilmore as lifelike as possible.

A lion is pictured in a an enclosed glass on display in a museum.

Story

Conservation Treatment of Gilmore the Flying Lion: Examination

Posted on Feb 07, 2023

As a cub in the 1930s, Gilmore made aviation history when he traveled around the United States with the flamboyant and colorful aviator Roscoe Turner as a mascot for the Gilmore Oil Company. Read and see images of the detailed discoveries made during the initial examination of the conservation treatment of Gilmore.

A person lying on top of a large umbrella shaped satellite antenna while cleaning it.

Story

Making the Most of Treating a 30-Foot Diameter Umbrella-Shaped Antenna

Posted on Oct 24, 2022

Conservator Rachel Greenberg reflects on the conservation and restoration of a 30-foot parabolic antenna that is part of a full-scale engineering model of the Applications Technology Satellite-6 (ATS-6). Read about the large umbrella-shaped antenna that now hangs from the ceiling in the new One World Connected gallery.

LRV Test Unit

Story

Conserving the Lunar Roving Vehicle

Posted on Apr 27, 2022

The lunar roving vehicle (LRV), gave Apollo 15, Apollo 16, and Apollo 17 astronauts the ability to travel far distances and haul equipment and samples with ease. Read about the conservation treatment of the qualification test unit LRV, used for testing to ensure that the rovers for the Apollo missions functioned properly while on the Moon.

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National Air and Space Museum

6th St. and Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20560

202-633-2214

Open daily
10:00 am - 5:30 pm
Free Timed-Entry Passes
Required

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway
Chantilly, VA 20151

703-572-4118

Open daily
10:00 am - 5:30 pm
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