What connects a rocket engine that has flown to space and back, a printed habitat for Martian astronauts, and an interactive digital tapestry of flight firsts? They all call one brand-new revitalized home, as the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum reopens five reimagined galleries, inviting people to witness the next generation of aerospace history through the eyes of pioneering engineering and interactive technology.
Tourists who flocked to the National Mall this week stood at the threshold of a $900 million makeover, a 7-year project that started in 2018 and will conclude on the museum’s 50th anniversary in 2026. The novel north entrance, with its bold wing-like vestibule, opens directly into the core of the museum: the “Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall.” Although artifacts themselves like John Glenn’s “Friendship 7” Mercury capsule are recognizable, the atmosphere has been comprehensively overhauled. As described by Margaret Weitekamp, curator and division chair, We have a wonderful 123-foot media band that goes across the front of the mezzanine, and we have 20 different slide shows that work as a digest of what you’ll find in the new galleries throughout the building. Terrazzo floors in the hall, set with medallions of quotes from such notables as Carl Sagan and Sally Ride, and an updated pulsar map correct for 2026, mark a combination of respect for the past and expectation for the future throughout the area.
Next to this legendary hall, the “Futures in Space” gallery departs from linear chronological narrative. Rather, it challenges guests to struggle with questions at the core of space travel: Who gets to go to space? Why are we going? What will we do once we arrive? The gallery’s centerpiece objects are not relics but players in the ongoing space race of the day: a Merlin engine and grid fin from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket both battle-hardened survivors of the grueling rigors of orbital flight and retrieval take center stage alongside a Blue Origin New Shepard crew module and Sian Proctor’s Inspiration4 pressure suit. “We really wanted the gallery to be one that engaged visitors in these questions and that centered the experience around what they thought should be happening in the future and what that would mean for them,” replied curator Matt Shindell.
The engineering that went into these objects is as fascinating as is their cultural interest. The Merlin engine of the Falcon 9, for instance, is included in a new generation of reusable rocketry that has transformed the economics and potentiality of space travel. As MIT’s Zack Cordero described, “The new class of reusable launch vehicles is likely to transform the space industry by lowering launch costs and improving space accessibility.” The Merlin engine design enables more than 10 flights with little maintenance due to the advancements in material science, additive manufacturing, and thermal protection systems that mitigate the harsh stresses of repeated reentries and launches. The Falcon 9’s grid fins, constructed of titanium, control the descent of the booster, facilitating accurate landings and extending the rocket’s lifespan even further.
Still, as the example galleries disclose, the path to reusability is full of technical hurdles. Cordero observes, “There is a real, underappreciated risk that these new heavy lift launch vehicles will continue to fail unless there are fundamental advances in materials technology.” His laboratory is at the forefront of developing oxygen-compatible ceramic coatings and ignition-resistant alloys with the goal of advancing reusable engine reliability to commercial aviation standards.
Perhaps the most forward-looking exhibit is the immersive 3D-printed Mars habitat, a tangible preview of how humans might one day live on another world. The structure is based on real-world analogs like NASA’s Mars Dune Alpha, a 1,700-square-foot habitat printed using ICON’s Vulcan system and Lavacrete, a proprietary mortar engineered to mimic Martian regolith. The environment’s design embraces insights from architecture and engineering as well: dense, multi-layered walls for shielding from radiation, self-sustaining construction methods to minimize dependence on terrestrial resources, and modulated living quarters optimized for crew well-being and mission effectiveness as piloted in NASA’s analog missions. As per Melodie Yashar, a vice president of building design at ICON, Future surface-exploration missions on the moon and Mars will leverage large-scale additive manufacturing (or 3D printing) with in situ resources to eliminate the need to launch large quantities of building materials from Earth.
Concrete 3D printing advantages on Mars go beyond logistics and economics. Marscrete, made up of 75% Martian dust and 25% molten sulfur, can be created locally with high mechanical strength and quick hardening imperative to building in the planet’s harsh environment where temperature fluctuations and radiation represent ongoing hazards. Scientists are also investigating geopolymer binders and reclaimed polyethylene fibers as a means to further improve durability and constructability.
The visitor experience is every bit as interactive as the technology showcased. “Futures in Space” weaves pop culture into the equation like an Adam Savage-built replica of R2-D2, for instance a TED Talk-style platform for live programming by industry executives, astronauts, and visionaries. The museum’s digital upgrades, ranging from wall-spanning screens to immersive media, encourage visitors to not just view history, but engage in creating the next chapter of space exploration.
As the museum marks its fiftieth anniversary, the newly revitalized galleries are both an homage to the pioneers of aerospace and a springboard for the next great generation of explorers. Where the intersection of engineering ingenuity, architectural imagination, and public engagement comes together, the National Air and Space Museum is not only a collection of artifacts, but an active laboratory for the future of flight and beyond.
