"At Home in Space" Opens in Washington, Nearing End of Air and Space Museum Renovation
The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington has opened "At Home in Space," a gallery about living in orbit. One of the last galleries in the museum's long renovation, it will be followed by "Modern Military Aviation" on November 11.
The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., has opened a new gallery, "At Home in Space," about how people live and work in orbit. It is one of the final two galleries in the museum's sweeping renovation, which the institution describes as the most extensive project it has undertaken. Once "Modern Military Aviation" opens on November 11, visitors will again be able to see the entire building.
What visitors will see
Visitors can walk through a full-scale mockup of the US Destiny laboratory on the International Space Station (ISS). One side has interactive elements, while the other displays crew-related artifacts, including coffee cups designed for use in microgravity.
Another section focuses on science. It features a miniPCR biotech toolkit that flew in space and the MinION portable device, used to sequence DNA in space for the first time. Small scent vials let visitors smell what space and the ISS smell like. Nearby is the first 3D printer used in space. Made In Space (now part of Redwire) and NASA flew it in 2014, and it produced hundreds of objects, from astronaut tools to station repair parts.
Waiting for Artemis
The gallery ends with a space reserved for the Artemis I capsule, which flew to the Moon without astronauts in 2022. Until NASA delivers the real spacecraft, expected later this year, a Lockheed Martin scale model of Orion stands in its place. A piece of Wright Flyer fabric that traveled to the Moon on Artemis II is also on display.
End of the renovation
The renovation also included new exterior cladding and replacement of mechanical systems. The first half of the museum reopened in 2022 with eight new or reimagined galleries, the Northrop Grumman Planetarium, a museum store and the Mars Café. The second phase brought five galleries in 2025, and five more opened on July 1. Museum director Chris Browne said the museum was thrilled to complete the project. Admission to the galleries remains free, but timed-entry passes are required.
