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AirSpace

National Air and Space Museum

We see the connections to aviation and space in literally everything. From our favorite movies and the songs in our playlists to the latest news of space exploration and your commercial flight home for the holidays – aerospace is literally everywhere you look. Twice a month, our hosts riff on some of the coolest stories of aviation and space history, news, and culture. We promise, whether you’re an AVGeek, wannabe Space Camper, or none of the above, you’ll find a connection to your life and learn something interesting in the process.

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  • 24 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 31 min
  • English

Episodes 24

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  • S11 · E3
    Dec 25, 2025 · 24 min

    Miasma of Incandescent Plasma

    Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how we wonder . . . well, where to even begin? How do stars form from gas and dust? Why do some stars go supernova? And what the heck is the "main sequence?" We brought in one of the Museum's astronomy educators for a stellar conversation about the birth, life, and death of stars. There's plenty to learn, and even more to wonder about, today on AirSpace. Thanks to our guest in this episode: Shauna Edson, Astronomy Educator, National Air and Space Museum The transcript for this episode is at s.si.edu/airspaces11e3. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter. AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

  • S11 · E2
    Dec 11, 2025 · 24 min

    The Journey of a Suitcase

    Have you ever wondered what happens to your checked bag once you've handed it over to the airline? Us too! We took a field trip to Dulles Airport to visit our friends at United Airlines and find out. Today on AirSpace, follow a suitcase on its journey from check-in through TSA, airline sorting, handling on the aircraft, and back to you on the baggage carousel. Thanks to our guest in this episode: Jim Decker, Director of Ramp Operations for United Airlines at Dulles International Airport The transcript for this episode is at s.si.edu/airspaces11e2 Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter. AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

  • S11 · E1
    Nov 27, 2025 · 35 min

    Eye of the Hurricane

    SEEKING: full time aviators slash weather enthusiasts for unique opportunity. SCHEDULE: hurricane season. WORK SITE: Lakeland, FL; Biloxi, MS; and the eye of a hurricane. Members of the Air Force and NOAA Corps spend months each year flying back and forth through hurricanes collecting information vital to weather prediction. On the Season 11 premiere of AirSpace, we talk to three of them and get the download on what it takes to do that job. Thanks to our guests in this episode: Lieutenant Colonel Mark Withee, Air Force 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Commander Kevin Doremus, NOAA Corps Lieutenant Thomas Smith, NOAA Corps The transcript for this episode is at s.si.edu/airspaces11e1. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter. AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

  • Oct 9, 2025 · 30 min

    AirSpace Bonus! There's More to That: Auroras

    AirSpace will be back with Season 11 very soon. In the meantime we thought y'all would enjoy this episode from the Smithsonian Magazine's podcast, There's More to That: Why Auroras Are Suddenly Everywhere All at Once. For millennia, auroras have both enchanted and haunted human beings. Ancient lore is filled with myths attempting to explain what caused the celestial phenomenon. More recent historic documentation of auroras may even help us predict damaging solar storms in the future. As we head into a year expected to bring the best northern lights in two decades, we consider the science behind auroras and why they are suddenly so plentiful—even in places that hardly qualify as northern. In this episode, Jo Marchant, author of The Human Cosmos, and Smithsonian science editor Carlyn Kranking revel in auroras through the ages and explain how to view these dazzling displays yourself.

Showing 21–24 of 24 episodes