A closeup of Ganymede 📸

Three years ago today, NASA's Juno spacecraft flew within 645 miles of Jupiter's moon Ganymede. This flyby is the closest we had gotten to the largest moon in our solar system since a flyby by the Galileo spacecraft in 2000.

On #TDIH in 1965, James McDivitt and Ed White returned to Earth after the four-day Gemini IV mission. In this photo, Navy divers assist with recovery after splashdown.

This week, World War II veteran Waverly Woodson Jr was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic actions during the #DDay invasion.

Woodson was a member of the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion. Learn more about the 320th: s.si.edu/3KxjzfP #DDay 80

Our Martin B-26 Marauder Flak-Bait flew three #DDay missions. 80 years ago, Flak-Bait's day began at 4am, when 1st Lt. James Ferrell and his crew flew an early morning bombing mission. Explore this iconic aircraft's D-Day missions on the blog: s.si.edu/3qyheL2 #DDay 80

80 years ago today, Allied troops landed on beaches of Normandy, under the protective fire of British and American warships and overwhelming airpower, to fight Nazi Germany.

Commonly known as #DDay , the operation's codename was 'Operation Overlord.' #DDay 80

Today in 1966, Gemini IX-A astronauts Tom Stafford and Gene Cernan splashed down in the western Atlantic after a three day mission. An hour later they were welcomed aboard the U.S.S. Wasp recovery ship.

What would it take to bring Mars samples back to Earth? Tune in tonight at 8 pm ET as we explore how NASA plans to return samples collected by Mars rover Perseverance to Earth and what we hope to learn: youtube.com/live/NuYayQEjV…

Sponsored by L3Harris & @ULALaunch

On this day in 2002, Space Shuttle Endeavour lifted off on STS-111, which launched the Expedition 5 crew, took supplies to the International International Space Station, and brought the Expedition 4 crew back to Earth.

25 years ago today, the Student-Tracked Atmospheric Research Satellite for Heuristic International Networking Experiment (STARSHINE) satellite was deployed from the cargo bay of Space Shuttle Discovery near the completion of the almost ten-day STS-96 mission.

On this day in 1966, Gene Cernan became the third person, and second American, to walk in space on the Gemini IX-A mission. In this blog, one of our space history curators recounts Cernan’s harrowing and nearly disastrous spacewalk: s.si.edu/3ceohhR

Today, NASA and Boeing Space successfully launched the Boeing Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station. With astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on board, this is the first Starliner spacecraft mission with crew.

Congratulations to all the teams involved! 🚀

Rockoons—combinations of rockets and balloons—launched notable atmospheric experiments in the mid-20th century. Some rocket clubs and private companies are beginning to try using them again today. Learn about rockoons in a new blog: s.si.edu/4aN9QN9

In 1986, Robert Harris flew this Grob 102 Standard Astir III sailplane to a world altitude record of nearly 50,000 feet. Harris donated the Grob 102 to the Museum on #TDIH in 1997.

#OTD in 1930, Lt. Apollo Soucek flew an open cockpit Wright Apache fighter to a world record altitude of over 43 thousand feet. He wore this fur helmet to keep warm during the flight.

#OTD in 1942, the Battle of Midway began. The course of World War II was dramatically altered when Douglas SBD Dauntless aircraft destroyed four Japanese carriers.

“I'm coming back in... and it's the saddest moment of my life.'

That's what Ed White said after completing the first American spacewalk on this day in 1965. We've never been on a spacewalk (one can only dream...) but we imagine we might feel the same way.

Today in 1969: The last episode of the original #StarTrek TV series aired. 🖖

Can you name the episode?

Before they were airplane inventors, the Wright brothers owned a bicycle shop.

Only five bicycles made by the Wright brothers are known to exist. This one, a model they called St. Clair that was made in 1898, is on display in our 'Wright Brothers' gallery. #WorldBicycleDay

On this day in 1966, Tom Stafford and Gene Cernan launched on the Gemini IX-A mission. It was the seventh crewed Earth-orbiting spaceflight of the Gemini program.

When you think of military aircraft, this probably isn't quite what you picture.

Today in 1909, the Wright brothers returned to Fort Myer to complete flight trials on what would become the first military airplane. #AirSpacePhoto