In the coming weeks, the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum will complete its landmark renovation with the opening of its final two galleries, marking the culmination of a transformation that began in 2018.
“At Home in Space” will open on 30 October, and “Modern Military Aviation” will open 11 November, completing a decade long effort to reimagine the museum’s exhibitions, and renew the infrastructure and visitor experience.
“We are thrilled to complete the most extensive project the museum has ever undergone,” said Chris Browne, John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Museum.
“With the opening of these last two galleries, the public will once again be able to visit the entirety of the museum and learn from and engage with the nation’s world-class aerospace collection,” Browne said.
“At Home in Space” is an immersive, highly interactive exhibition that takes visitors on a more than 50-year journey of learning how humans can live and work in space continuously and venture beyond Earth’s orbit. Some of its key artifacts are a space shuttle main engine; a flown Extravehicular Mobility Unit spacesuit; Robonaut 1A, an experimental humanoid robot; and Guy Bluford’s and Sally Ride’s in-flight suits. Visitors can step inside a mock-up of the International Space Station’s Destiny module, a U.S. national laboratory on the station, and view a variety of objects such as tools for sequencing DNA in space and coffee cups engineered for use in microgravity. They will also have a chance to compete with other visitors in an interactive “Spaceflight Academy Quiz” game.
In “Modern Military Aviation,” visitors will learn how nuclear weapons and advances in aviation technology have transformed conflict, diplomacy and military operations from the Cold War to the present. The exhibition is a modern, dynamic space that shows the people behind the technology and explores the development of missiles, automation and other aviation technologies that reshaped modern warfare and international relations. Highlights of the museum’s unparalleled collection of military aviation artifacts include the North American F-86 Sabre, the Bell UH-1H “Huey” and the General Atomics MQ-1L Predator.
The renovation included redesigning all 20 galleries, completely refacing the exterior cladding, replacing outdated mechanical systems and other repairs and improvements. The first half of the renovated museum opened in October 2022 with eight new or reimagined galleries, the Northrop Grumman Planetarium, the museum store and the Mars Café. The second phase opened in July 2025 with five new galleries, and five additional galleries opened July 1. More information about how the museum has revitalized the building and is transforming all of its exhibitions is available on the museum’s website.
The opening of “At Home in Space” and “Modern Military Aviation” is part of the museum’s 50th-anniversary celebration. Programming has been underway and will continue throughout the year to celebrate the anniversary, including a film series, lectures, special merchandise and digital offerings. For a full listing and information, visit the museum’s website.
The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., is located at 650 Jefferson Dr. S.W. and is open every day except 25 Dec from 10 am to 5:30 pm. Admission is free, but timed-entry passes are required to visit. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly, Virginia, near Washington Dulles International Airport and is open every day except 25 Dec from 10 a.m. to 5:30 pm. Admission is free, timed-entry passes are not required and parking is USD$15.
