In the Cold War, space was a new and critical frontier for intelligence. Many early satellites were spy satellites (although they did a bit of science, too). In this episode, we learn about two early U.S. spy satellite programs, GRAB and CORONA. We learn what motivated these programs, why they were so important to future satellite development, and how to recover film capsules mid-air using a gigantic hook on the bottom of a plane.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

• Keith Masback, intelligence expert
• Andrew Ross, Guggenheim Fellow, National Air and Space Museum

Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/airspaces11e9.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter.

AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

Today on AirSpace: the scandal of the century! Matt and Emily are joined by friend of the show and Museum curator Bob van der Linden to learn all the twists and turns of the Air Mail Crisis of 1934.

The controversy centered on one question: who should fly the mail? Conflicts between brand-new commercial airlines, Congress, and the Roosevelt administration reached a boiling point that led to lucrative contracts being cancelled and the disastrous involvement of the Army Air Corps. In the aftermath, new regulation shaped commercial flight and the Postal Service for generations. This story is a political drama, a postal drama, AND an aviation drama. What more can you ask for?

Thanks to our guest in this episode:

• Dr. Bob van der Linden, Curator for Commercial Aviation, National Air and Space Museum

Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/airspaces11e8.

To learn even more about the Air Mail Crisis, check out the Museum's website.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter.

AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.

July 24th, 1969. After their historic mission to the Moon’s surface and back, there was one final step in the Apollo 11 mission: splashdown. As the command module floated (gracefully, we are sure) in the Pacific Ocean, a team of elite Navy divers known as Frogmen swam up to help the astronauts safely and securely onto a helicopter that would take them to the USS Hornet.

Today on AirSpace, we hear from three of the Frogmen who plucked the Apollo astronauts out of the drink (and may have engaged in some horseplay on the floating capsule). We also hear from our Museum’s own Apollo Curator about the details of this critical final stage in the Apollo missions, and what to expect when capsules full of Artemis astronauts start splashing down this decade.

Thanks to our guests in this episode:

• Dr. Teasel Muir-Harmony, Apollo Curator- National Air and Space Museum
• John Wolfram, former Navy Frogman
• Clancy Hatleberg, former Navy Frogman
• Wes Chesser, former Navy Frogman

Find the transcript for this episode and more information at s.si.edu/airspaces11e7.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter at s.si.edu/airspacenewsletter.

AirSpace is made possible with the generous support of Lockheed Martin.