Where is the Space Shuttle Discovery displayed?

The space shuttle Discovery is the centerpiece of the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport is the companion facility to the Museum on the National Mall. The building opened in December 2003, and provides enough space for the Smithsonian to display the thousands of aviation and space artifacts that cannot be exhibited on the National Mall.

What are the top places to eat?

The Wright Place Food Court offers menu items from Boston Market, McDonald's, and Donatos Pizzeria. A Café upstairs offers coffee, pastries and assorted food items. Food and drink, other than bottled water, are not permitted inside the Museum.

Is there parking at the National Air & Space Museum?

Located on the National Mall, the museum is located near several paid parking lots and garages, and there is limited metered street parking nearby. The nearest parking garages are Capital Gallery Garage and Federal Center Plaza Garage on 6th Street Southwest.

National Air And Space Museum

The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) of the Smithsonian Institution holds the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world. Located on the National Mall in Washington, DC, the museum is the center for research on the history and science of aviation and spaceflight, as well as astronomy and terrestrial geology and geophysics. The museum features 22 exhibit galleries, historic aircraft, like the 1903 Wright Flyer, science demonstrations, an IMAX theater, and a planetarium.

6th St. and Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20560

Distance from hotel: 2.8 miles

Details

Hours

Open 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Prices

Admission is free.

Top Exhibits

The Spirit Of St. Louis

The Spirit of St. Louis is the custom-built, single engine, single-seat monoplane that was flown solo by Charles Lindbergh on May 20-21, 1927, on the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris. On April 30, 1928, Lindbergh presented his monoplane to the Smithsonian Institution where for more than eight decades it has been on display, today hanging in the atrium of the National Air and Space Museum alongside the Bell X-1 and SpaceShipOne.

Apollo 11 Command Module

Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that landed the first humans, Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on the Moon on July 20, 1969. The command module is displayed at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C. Armstrong's and Aldrin's space suits are displayed in the museum's Apollo to the Moon exhibit.

Children's Favorites

A favorite gallery for children is the "How Things Fly". This is the place for hands-on action, including fascinating science demonstrations, paper airplane contests, and 50 exciting interactive devices.

FAQs

Where is the Space Shuttle Discovery displayed?
The space shuttle Discovery is the centerpiece of the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport is the companion facility to the Museum on the National Mall. The building opened in December 2003, and provides enough space for the Smithsonian to display the thousands of aviation and space artifacts that cannot be exhibited on the National Mall.
What are the top places to eat?
The Wright Place Food Court offers menu items from Boston Market, McDonald's, and Donatos Pizzeria. A Café upstairs offers coffee, pastries and assorted food items. Food and drink, other than bottled water, are not permitted inside the Museum.
Is there parking at the National Air & Space Museum?
Located on the National Mall, the museum is located near several paid parking lots and garages, and there is limited metered street parking nearby. The nearest parking garages are Capital Gallery Garage and Federal Center Plaza Garage on 6th Street Southwest.

Helpful Links

https://www.si.edu/
https://airandspace.si.edu/