The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is a museum of the Smithsonian Institution and is located in Washington, D.C. It is the largest and most visited museum in the world dedicated to the preservation and display of artifacts related to the history of flight and space exploration.
The museum's collection includes over 60,000 artifacts, including aircraft, spacecraft, engines, and related artifacts. Visitors can view historic airplanes such as the Wright Brothers' Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, and the Apollo 11 Command Module, as well as spacecraft and rockets, including the Apollo Lunar Module and the Space Shuttle Discovery.
In addition to its extensive collection of aircraft and spacecraft, the museum also features interactive exhibits and simulations, including a planetarium and an IMAX theater. Visitors can also experience what it's like to be an astronaut in the Space Shuttle Simulator, or learn about the history of flight in the How Things Fly exhibit.
The museum is also home to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, located near Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. The center is a companion to the museum's main building and features many large artifacts that cannot be accommodated in the main building, including the Space Shuttle Enterprise and the SR-71 Blackbird.
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is a must-visit for anyone interested in the history of flight and space exploration. With its world-class collection of artifacts, interactive exhibits, and knowledgeable staff, the museum offers a unique and educational experience for visitors of all ages.