Skip navigation
Explore
About Us
Mission & Vision
Our History
Encyclopedia Smithsonian
Art & Design
History & Culture
Science & Technology
Visit
Overview
Hours
Maps & Directions
Floor Plans
Dining
Visiting with Kids
Visiting with Groups
goSmithsonian Travel Planner
Get Involved
Overview
Volunteer
Giving
Membership
Docents
Citizen Science
Connect
Overview
Blogs
Facebook
Flickr
Mobile
Pinterest
Podcasts
Twitter
YouTube
Virtual World
Educators
Kids
Researchers
Volunteers
Members
Fellows/Interns
Home
Museums and Zoo
Research Centers
Cultural Centers
Exhibitions
Events
Collections
Newsroom
Home
»
Accessibility
» Air & Space Collector's Edition 1981 - 2011
Narrated Magazines
Click here for the current
Smithsonian
Magazine in digital audio
Magazine Archive
Smithsonian
2013
May
April
March
February
January
2012
December
November
October
September
July/August
June
May
April
March
February
January
2011
December
November
October
September
July/August
June
May
April
March
February
January
2010
December
November
October
Air & Space
2013
May
March
January
2012
November
September
August
June/July
May
March/April
January/February
2011
November/December
September/October
August
July/June
Collector's Edition
April/May
February/March
December/January
October/November
Zoogoer
2013
January/February
2012
November/December
September/October
July/August
May/June
March/April
Collector's Edition 1981 - 2011
Download the Magazine!
Right-click & save as
to download the
MP3 version
»
Right-click & save as
to download the
CD version
»
Opening Announcements, Cover, Contents
Departments:Viewport, Dedication, Credits, The Shuttle Generation
Departments:In the Museum, Above & Beyond
Departments: The World’s First Spaceplane
Departments: Steep Learning Curve
The Turnaround
Before they returned to space, the orbiters were touched by a thousand hands.
By Greg Freiherr
Astronaut Stories
Women join the corps, a glimpse of speed, the most famous photo from the space shuttle era, and
Challenger.
The Real Heavy Lifting
How to make—and remake—the most powerful solid rocket engine in history.
By James R. Chiles
The Tempo of Success
In the 1990s, the shuttle launched planetary probes, great observatories, and a partnership with Russia.
Astronaut Stories
Space telescope repairs, the wrong underwear, collision in space, the Mir years, and coming home.
5…4…3…2…Abort!
Possibly the launch team’s finest hour.
By Greg Freiherr
Space Shuttle Impersonator
When a spacecraft costs $2 billion, how do you practice flying it?
By Debbie Gary
A Building in Space
Ten years ago into the new century, the space shuttle completed the mission it had been created for.
Meet the Orbiters
Why the five shuttles in the fleet looked and behaved the way they did.
By Michael Klesius
Astronaut Stories
Long days building the space station, the second tragedy, and what it all means.