Right outside our Udvar-Hazy Center is the Wall of Honor, a permanent memorial recognizing pioneers who have made history, veterans who have served our country, and those with a passion for flight. Add a name to the Wall of Honor: s.si.edu/34BuHBd

On this day in 1931, the NACA (the precursor of NASA) dedicated the first full-scale wind tunnel for testing airplanes in the US. The testing space within the wind tunnel was the size of a small two-story house, allowing engineers to test full-size aircraft.

#OTD in 1999, Space Shuttle Discovery launched on the first mission to dock with the International Space Station. The mission took a total of 3,567 pounds of material—clothing, sleeping bags, spare parts, medical equipment, supplies, hardware, and 84 gallons of water— to the ISS.

On this day in 1958, the McDonnell F4H-I Phantom II flew for the first time. The Phantom II is notable for its length of time in service, its ability to perform its mission, and the large number produced. More: s.si.edu/3BZ7Cv3

Today, we pay tribute to all those who gave their lives in military service to our country. #MemorialDay

🎨: 'On the Wire,' Harvey Thomas Dunn, 1918

Every year, a valley in New Mexico becomes the launching ground for the largest hot air balloon event in the world. We take you to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in the latest #ASQ : s.si.edu/4aytXP9

A picture perfect splashdown

On this day in 1969, the Apollo 10 command module splashed down in the Pacific Ocean less than four miles from the target point and recovery ship, an end to a successful 'dress rehearsal' for the Apollo 11 mission.

On this day in 1942, the prototype Northrop P-61 Black Widow (XP-61) made its first flight. The Black Widow was the first U.S. aircraft designed to locate and destroy enemy aircraft at night and in bad weather. Learn more on the blog: s.si.edu/4by4dnc

Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, was born on this day in 1951. Before joining NASA she earned a Ph.D. in physics and in 1978, was selected as a scientist-astronaut in a new role called Mission Specialist. Learn more about her life and legacy: s.si.edu/3IJ3GST

Today in 1977, #StarWars took us to a galaxy far, far away for the first time when the first film in the series was released, becoming one of the biggest box office hits of all time.

Explore where Air and Space and Star Wars intersect on our website: s.si.edu/3y387pg

On #TDIH in 2008, the Mars Phoenix Lander touched down near the Red Planet’s north polar ice cap. The image seen here was taken on the 30th day of the mission.

On this day in 1953, the YF-100A, the prototype for the F-100 Super Sabre, flew for the first time. The F-100 was the first fighter capable of supersonic speed in level flight.

We have a F-100D on display at our Udvar-Hazy Center: s.si.edu/43o8epN

“Now it is time… time for this nation to take a clearly leading role in space achievement, which in many ways may hold the key to our future on Earth.”

#OTD in 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced to Congress the goal of landing an American on the Moon.

On this day in 1973, Skylab 2 launched with the first crew to rendezvous with the Skylab space station: Paul Weitz, Pete Conrad, and Joseph Kerwin. They launched aboard a Saturn IB rocket from Pad 39B.

Astronaut Scott Carpenter wore this spacesuit and pair of boots on his orbital Mercury mission in the Aurora 7 spacecraft #OTD in 1962. Discover more items from his spaceflight in our collection: s.si.edu/3wMBH26

After lunar module 'Snoopy' was jettisoned from the Apollo 10 command module this week in 1969, Capcom Jack Lousma sent the crew a fictional message from Snoopy’s 'Peanuts' archenemy the Red Baron: “Congratulations on doing what I've been trying to do for a long time.”

Space Shuttle Atlantis returned from the final Hubble servicing mission with this camera, today in 2009. The Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) made Hubble famous and revolutionized the way the public engaged with and understood deep space objects: s.si.edu/3UYdDB8

#OTD in 1962, Scott Carpenter became the fourth American in space, and the second American to orbit the Earth, in his Mercury 'Aurora 7' spacecraft.

On #TDIH in 1969, the Apollo 10 astronauts began their return journey from the Moon back to Earth in command module 'Charlie Brown.'

This photo of Earth rising above the lunar horizon was taken during the mission.