Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Completes Renovation with "At Home in Space" Exhibit

Renovation Concludes

The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. has finished its extensive renovation project, which spanned seven years and cost nearly $1 billion. The completion marks a significant milestone for the museum, allowing all its galleries to be open to the public.

New "At Home in Space" Exhibit

The final exhibition to open, "At Home in Space," debuted on October 30. This gallery focuses on the history and future of human presence in space, specifically long-duration spaceflight and the establishment of a spacefaring civilization. Curator Jennifer Levasseur described it as the story of "reaching orbit" and the progression to sustained human life in space.

Exhibit Content

The "At Home in Space" exhibit covers the preparatory stages of spaceflight, the Space Shuttle program, and over 25 years of long-duration spaceflight experience, including the International Space Station (ISS). It also explores the next steps for human space exploration, such as future bases on the Moon and Mars. The gallery immerses visitors in the equipment, spacecraft, and orbital platforms that have enabled humanity to transition from visiting space to living there.

Broader Museum Updates

This new gallery joins other recently opened exhibitions as part of the renovation, including "Destination Moon," which covers the first US astronauts and Moon landings; "Kenneth C. Griffin Exploring the Planets," focusing on robotic planetary exploration; "RTX Living in the Space Age Hall," which examines the impact of space technologies on daily life; and "Futures in Space," which looks at future approaches to spaceflight.