Air Space Smithsonian

This Autobiography headlines the collections, both on view and behind the scenes, of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. The official story and insiders' tales of the museum are shared by its curators, the people who know it best. Photography and backstage glimpses show off the collection, including well-known artifacts like Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis and the Apollo 11 command module, as well as rare treasures not displayed to the public. --from publisher description.

Take an action-packed flight through the history of aircraft and discover the intrepid pioneers who made a dream reality Uncover the engineering behind more than 800 aircraft models, from military jets to commercial planes. This visual history book captures the fascinating story of airplanes and aviation, and how their groundbreaking discovery has influenced the 21st Century. Inside the pages of this aircraft book, you’ll discover: • The history of military and commercial aircraft from all over the world, decade by decade, to the present day in stunning visual detail • Comprehensive catalogs highlight the most important aircraft of each period along with their specifications and unique features • Showcases on particularly celebrated aircraft – such as the Supermarine Spitfire and Concorde – in beautifully photographed “virtual tour” features • The stories of the engineers and manufacturers that created marques like Boeing and Airbus Take to the skies Modern flight has opened the world up to new opportunities and paved the way for the development of advanced research and technology. But, what made it so groundbreaking? This book uncovers the stories behind the first airplane models, the development of flight, and brings you to present-day marvels such as the Gypsy Moth and Supermarine Spitfire. The Aircraft Book is filled with stats, facts, and photographs that create a visual tour and allows you to see inside key commercial and military aircraft models from the exterior to the cockpit. Aviation enthusiasts will also be captivated by the manufacturer of aircraft engines and how famous models like Boeing and Lockheed became household names. Love history? Discover even more with DK! DK's The Definitive Visual History series is an iconic celebration of design and history. Packed with fascinating facts and statistics, these high-quality visual guides cover everything from history and notable designs to the people and technology that made it possible. Books in this series include The Car Book, The Train Book, The Tank Book, and so much more.

The goal of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth required the development of three things: spacecraft, launch vehicles, and protective clothing. Spacesuits: Within the Collections of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum takes the reader through the development of the last category, the spacesuits used during this venture. Highlighting the pressure suits created during the years leading up to the lunar missions and beyond, this book features dramatic photographs of the Smithsonian's collection, as well as never-before-published historical images of spacesuit development and testing-range-of-motion studies, for example, in which researchers wore spacesuits while playing baseball and football. The book also includes a group of advanced spacesuits, which, though never used on a mission, are in many respects the most exciting suits ever created. One suit glove has steel fingernails and sharkskin pads, in an attempt to harness the abilities of the human hand. Spacesuits are surprisingly fragile; they are made for a short lifespan in the most extreme of conditions, and long-term survival is not part of their design process. The final chapter touches briefly on the current conditions of historic suits, how they have held up over time, the reasons for their deterioration, and the rewards and difficulties associated with caring for and preserving these very complex and iconic artifacts. From the first spacesuit designs of the 1930s through those worn on the landmark Apollo-Soyuz program of 1975, Spacesuits provides a behind-the-scenes look at the history of these remarkable creations, including some that have never before been publicly displayed.

Earth from Spaceprovides a global view like no other. It presents our planet from a spectacular perspective, captures the diversity of life that exists around the globe, and takes us on a fascinating journey of discovery. Since the beginning of human history, we have sought a better understanding of the world around us. Thanks to the newest generation of satellites we can appreciate the beauty of the Earth as never before. Earth from Spaceincludes 300 spectacular satellite images: glaciers and forests, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, the Grand Canyon and the Pyramids, rain forests and coral reefs, ecological disasters and war zones, and places of spectacular beauty - viewed at different scales by orbiting satellites. The structure of land surfaces, the effects of human and natural forces, and the ways in which our planet is changing can be clearly seen and understood. Much more than a collection of extraordinary images, Earth from Spaceincludes background information that explains the tools of the trade and maps that place the photos in context. Individually, the pictures capture every aspect of our dynamic planet. Collectively, they provide us with a unique and unparalleled view of the Earth, our home in space.

Experience the thrill of flying some of the world's most important airplanes and spacecraft. Best of the National Air and Space Museum provides unprecedented access to the most popular museum in the world. The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum hosts an average of seven million visits every year. The Udvar-Hazy Center—three football fields long and ten stories high—receives more than one million visits annually. Best of the National Air and Space Museum features the best of both museums, from the Challenger space shuttle and the Wright flyer to the Spirit of St. Louis and the stealth bomber. Robert Van der Linden, curator of aeronautics, has selected the most important, popular, and just plain impressive aircraft and spacecraft from the collections of both museums to be showcased in this beautiful book. Each page spread includes intriguing facts of the item's design, use, mission, specifications, and dimensions. A must-have for space and aviation buffs.

This is perhaps the finest collection of cockpit photographs in existence. The Museum (NASM) holds the world's premier collection of historic aircraft, but visitors to the museum must maintain a respectful distance. In At the Controls, NASM photographers Eric Long and Mark Avino use creative lighting techniques and an extremely wide-angle lens mounted on a short-bodied, large-format architectural camera to duplicate the sensation of actually being at the controls inside the cockpit of 45 legendary aircraft. The reader experiences a pilot's-eye view of the cockpit. Among the 45 featured aircraft are these history-making planes: Wright Brothers 1903 Flyer Blériot Type XI Fokker D.VII Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VII Focke-Wulf Fw 190F-8 Ilyushin IL-2 Shturmovik Messerschmitt Me 262 Boeing B-29 Enola Gay Sikorsky UH-34D Seahorse Project Apollo Lunar Module Space Shuttle Columbia

Amelia Earhart's account of her ill-fated last flight around the world, begun in 1937, remains one of the most moving and absorbing adventure stories of all time. Last Flight compiles the letters, diary entries and charts that she sent to her husband, G.P. Putnam at each stage of her trip. In her own words, these dispatches offer a window into her experience on this ground-breaking journey and illustrate her cheerful, charming nature. Her story continues to intrigue and inspire people to this day.

This fully illustrated guide to the world's most-visited aviation and space museum is both an indispensable companion for visitors and a detailed history in itself of humanity's quest for flight. The Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum maintains the world's largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft plus an amazing assortment of other historic objects. Many fascinating items from the twenty-three galleries and two off-site facilities—including the Wright Flyer, Chuck Yeager’s Bell X-1, and the spacesuits worn by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin—are presented here in 200 full-color photographs, accompanied by their equally intriguing stories.