3/4 front view of McDonnell-Douglas Large-Scale lift fan, vertical and/or short take-off and landing (V/STOL), transport model. Francis Malerick in photograph. The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 (initially known as the Douglas DC-9) is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner.

NASA aircraft DC-9 microgravity plane performs it's first test parabolas over Lake Erie. This was photographed by the NASA Glenn Lear Jet in a chase plane configuration.

Illustration Future Prop-Fan airraft Studies (DC-9): Prop-Fan engine - airframe integration investigations

Illustration Future Prop-Fan airraft Studies (DC-9): Prop-Fan engine - airframe integration investigations and computation and wind tunnel tests

DC-9 AIRPLANE FLYING OVER CLEVELAND OHIO SEPTEMBER 23 1994

DC-9 PERFORMING MICROGRAVITY PARABALA -9/23/94

Experimental study on material flammability and flame spreading in partial gravity aboard the DC-9 aircraft, based at GRC. Pictured in the center is John Yaniec, the DC-9 test director, who is coordinating reduced-gravity maneuver timing between the experimenters and the cockpit and ensuring safe behavior of the research cadre. Pictured on the left is crew member Jerry Auschuetz who is monitoring the experiment. Floating on the right is researcher Kurt Sacksteder.

DC-9 AIRPLANE IN FLIGHT AT 50 DEGREES ANGLE OVER HORIZON

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins, Robert Hines, and Kjell Lindgren look on as NASA Administrator Bill Nelson shows other visitors a model of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that carried Crew-4 to the International Space Station, Monday, March 27, 2023, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

JSC2007-E-43538 (9 Aug. 2007) --- Astronauts Pamela A. Melroy, STS-120 commander, and George D. Zamka, pilot, pose for a photo in the cockpit of a NASA DC-9 aircraft during a Heavy Aircraft Training (HAT) session.

The Moon, or supermoon, is seen as it rises behind the U.S. Capitol, Monday, March 9, 2020, in Washington, DC. A supermoon occurs when the Moon’s orbit is closet (perigee) to Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

The Moon, or supermoon, is seen as it rises behind the U.S. Capitol, Monday, March 9, 2020, in Washington, DC. A supermoon occurs when the Moon’s orbit is closet (perigee) to Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

3/4 lower front view of DC-9 lift/cruz fan transport model. Pictured with Eloy Martinez (left, mechanic) Leo Hall (right, engineer).

The Moon, or supermoon, is seen as it rises behind the spire of St. Dominic Church, Monday, March 9, 2020, in Washington, DC. A supermoon occurs when the Moon’s orbit is closet (perigee) to Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden signs a framework agreement on civil space cooperation between the U.S. and Canada, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009, at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls) 

Canadian Space Agency President Steve MacLean signs a framework agreement on civil space cooperation between the U.S. and Canada, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009, at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls) 

The Moon, or supermoon, is seen as it rises behind the U.S. Capitol, Monday, March 9, 2020, in Washington, DC. A supermoon occurs when the Moon’s orbit is closet (perigee) to Earth. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

The Progress Pride flag is seen flying at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building, Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Washington, DC. In recognition of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, the Progress Pride flag will be flown outside of the agency’s headquarters for the month of June. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Ted Brunzie and Peter Mason observe the float package and the data rack aboard the DC-9 reduced gravity aircraft. The float package contains a cryostat, a video camera, a pump and accelerometers. The data rack displays and record the video signal from the float package on tape and stores acceleration and temperature measurements on disk.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, right, and Canadian Space Agency President Steve MacLean sign a framework agreement on civil space cooperation, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009, at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls) 

S76-29569 --- Astronaut Richard H. Truly, pilot of the second crew for the Space Shuttle Approach and Landing Tests (ALT), is photographed at the Rockwell International Space Division's Orbiter assembly facility at Palmdale, California on the day of the rollout of the Shuttle Orbiter 101 "Enterprise" spacecraft. The DC-9 size airplane-like Orbiter 101 is in the background.

The Progress Pride flag is seen flying at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building, Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Washington, DC. In recognition of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, the Progress Pride flag will be flown outside of the agency’s headquarters for the month of June. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

The Progress Pride flag is seen flying at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building, Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Washington, DC. In recognition of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, the Progress Pride flag will be flown outside of the agency’s headquarters for the month of June. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, right, and Canadian Space Agency President Steve MacLean shake hands after signing a framework agreement on civil space cooperation, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009, at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls) 

S76-29562 --- The two crews for the Space Shuttle Approach and Landing Tests (ALT) are photographed at the Rockwell International Space Division's Orbiter assembly facility at Palmdale, California on the day of the rollout of the Shuttle Orbiter 101 "Enterprise" spacecraft. They are, left to right, Astronauts C. Gordon Fullerton, pilot of the first crew; Fred W. Haise Jr., commander of the first crew; Joe H. Engle, commander of the second crew; and Richard H. Truly, pilot of the second crew. The DC-9 size airplane-like Orbiter 101 is in the background.

Miranda (9) and Cameron Dyal view a partial solar eclipse in Washington, DC, Monday, April 8, 2024. A total solar eclipse swept across a narrow portion of the North American continent from Mexico’s Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada. A partial solar eclipse was visible across the entire North American continent along with parts of Central America and Europe. Photo Credit: (NASA/Denny Henry)

S76-29559 (17 Sept 1976) --- Astronaut C. Gordon Fullerton, pilot of the first crew for the Space Shuttle Approach and Landing Tests (ALT), is photographed at the Rockwell International Space Division's Orbiter assembly facility at Palmdale, California on the day of the rollout of the Shuttle Orbiter 101 "Enterprise" spacecraft. The DC-9 size airplane-like Orbiter 101 is in the background.

Miranda Dyal (9) views a partial solar eclipse in Washington, DC, Monday, April 8, 2024. A total solar eclipse swept across a narrow portion of the North American continent from Mexico’s Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada. A partial solar eclipse was visible across the entire North American continent along with parts of Central America and Europe. Photo Credit: (NASA/Denny Henry)

S76-29557 (17 Sept 1976) --- The two members of the first crew for the Space Shuttle Approach and Landing Tests (ALT) are photographed at the Rockwell International Space Division's Orbiter assembly facility at Palmdale, California on the day of the rollout of the Shuttle Orbiter 101 "Enterprise" spacecraft. They are Astronauts Fred W. Haise Jr. (left), commander; and C. Gordon Fullerton, pilot. The DC-9 size airplane-like Orbiter 101 is in the background.

(L-R) Miranda (9) and Cameron Dyal, Yudi Lewis, and Cameron Dyal (7) view a partial solar eclipse in Washington, DC, Monday, April 8, 2024. A total solar eclipse swept across a narrow portion of the North American continent from Mexico’s Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada. A partial solar eclipse was visible across the entire North American continent along with parts of Central America and Europe. Photo Credit: (NASA/Denny Henry)W

NASA astronaut Drew Feustel is seen during an interview, Thursday, May 9, 2019 at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses (NAMMA) DC-8 deployment to Cape Verde, Sal island, Africa

NASA astronaut Drew Feustel, center, talks about seismology while taping a segment of STEM in 30 with Marty Kelsey, left, and Beth Wilson, right, Thursday, May 9, 2019 at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide speak about NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 mission during a presentation with leadership and rangers who participate in the National Park Service’s astronomy and dark sky programs, Thursday, June 9, 2022 at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, DC. Kimbrough, Hoshide, NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet completed the second crew rotation mission to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 198 days aboard the orbiting laboratory as part of Expeditions 65 and 66. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Park ranger Rader Lane speaks on the National Park Service’s astronomy and dark sky programs at Grand Canyon National Park during a visit by NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 astronauts Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough of NASA, and Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Thursday, June 9, 2022 at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, DC. Kimbrough, McArthur, Hoshide, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet completed the second crew rotation mission to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 198 days aboard the orbiting laboratory as part of Expeditions 65 and 66. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins speaks with students about his time aboard the International Space Station during the Crew-1 mission, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at Garfield Elementary School in Washington, DC. Hopkins and fellow NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi launched on the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 168 days in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

SpaceX Crew-1 NASA astronauts, from left, Shannon Walker, Mike Hopkins, and Victor Glover read a book to students from the Learn DC public charter school at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB), Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Washington. Hopkins, Glover, Walker, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi, launched on the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 168 days in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA astronaut Shannon Walker speaks with students about her time aboard the International Space Station during the Crew-1 mission, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at Garfield Elementary School in Washington, DC. Walker and fellow NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Mike Hopkins, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi launched on the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 168 days in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Drew Feustel takes a selfie with a picture of himself from the STS-125 mission that is part of a display in the Moving Beyond Earth gallery at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, Thursday, May 9, 2019 in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

SpaceX Crew-1 NASA astronauts, from left, Victor Glover, Mike Hopkins, and Shannon Walker, read a book to students from the Learn DC public charter school at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB), Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Washington. Hopkins, Glover, Walker, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi, launched on the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 168 days in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA astronaut Victor Glover points to the Crew Dragon spacecraft on the Crew-1 mission patch as he speaks with students about his time aboard the International Space Station during the Crew-1 mission, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at Garfield Elementary School in Washington, DC. Glover and fellow NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Mike Hopkins, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi launched on the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 168 days in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Drew Feustel speaks about his experience on two space shuttle missions, STS-125 and STS-134, and a long duration mission onboard the International Space Station at NASA Headquarters, Thursday, May 9, 2019 in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA astronaut Drew Feustel speaks about his experience on two space shuttle missions, STS-125 and STS-134, and a long duration mission onboard the International Space Station at NASA Headquarters, Thursday, May 9, 2019 in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 astronauts Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, and NASA astronauts Megan McArthur, center, and Shane Kimbrough, right, look at Thomas Moran’s 1872 painting “The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone,” Thursday, June 9, 2022, during a visit to the National Park Service at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, DC. Kimbrough, McArthur, Hoshide, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet completed the second crew rotation mission to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 198 days aboard the orbiting laboratory as part of Expeditions 65 and 66. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Drew Feustel speaks about his experience on two space shuttle missions, STS-125 and STS-134, and a long duration mission onboard the International Space Station at NASA Headquarters, Thursday, May 9, 2019 in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Park ranger Rader Lane speaks on the National Park Service’s astronomy and dark sky programs at Grand Canyon National Park during a visit by NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 astronauts Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough of NASA, and Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Thursday, June 9, 2022 at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, DC. Kimbrough, McArthur, Hoshide, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet completed the second crew rotation mission to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 198 days aboard the orbiting laboratory as part of Expeditions 65 and 66. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins shows his crew’s “zero-G indicator” as he speaks with students about his time aboard the International Space Station during the Crew-1 mission, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at Garfield Elementary School in Washington, DC. Hopkins and fellow NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi launched on the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 168 days in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Koji Tomita, Japan's Ambassador to the US, second from left, is presented with a montage by NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 astronauts Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, and NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough, second from right, and Megan McArthur, Thursday, June 9, 2022, at the Japanese Ambassador’s Residence in Washington, DC. Kimbrough, McArthur, Hoshide, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet completed the second crew rotation mission to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 198 days aboard the orbiting laboratory as part of Expeditions 65 and 66. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

SpaceX Crew-1 NASA astronauts, Victor Glover, left, and Mike Hopkins, right, answer questions by students from the Learn DC public charter school at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB), Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Washington. Hopkins, Glover, NASA astronaut Shannon Walker, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi, launched on the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 168 days in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA astronaut Victor Glover speaks with students about his time aboard the International Space Station during the Crew-1 mission, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at Garfield Elementary School in Washington, DC. Glover and fellow NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Mike Hopkins, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi launched on the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 168 days in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

SpaceX Crew-1 NASA astronauts, from left, Shannon Walker, Mike Hopkins, and Victor Glover answer questions by students from the Learn DC public charter school at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB), Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Washington. Hopkins, Glover, Walker, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi, launched on the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 168 days in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA astronaut Drew Feustel speaks about his experience on two space shuttle missions, STS-125 and STS-134, and a long duration mission onboard the International Space Station at NASA Headquarters, Thursday, May 9, 2019 in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

SpaceX Crew-1 NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins and Shannon Walker, hand out NASA bags to students of the Learn DC public charter school at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB), Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Washington. Hopkins, Walker, NASA astronaut Victor Glover, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi, launched on the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 168 days in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Koji Tomita, Japan's Ambassador to the US, center, speaks with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 astronauts Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, and NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough, second from right, and Megan McArthur, Thursday, June 9, 2022, at the Japanese Ambassador’s Residence in Washington, DC. Kimbrough, McArthur, Hoshide, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet completed the second crew rotation mission to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 198 days aboard the orbiting laboratory as part of Expeditions 65 and 66. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Victor Glover speaks with students about his time aboard the International Space Station during the Crew-1 mission, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at Garfield Elementary School in Washington, DC. Glover and fellow NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Mike Hopkins, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi launched on the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 168 days in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide is seen with Koji Tomita, Japan's Ambassador to the US, Thursday, June 9, 2022, at the Japanese Ambassador’s Residence in Washington, DC. Hoshide, NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet flew on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 mission, the second crew rotation mission to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, and spent 198 days aboard the orbiting laboratory as part of Expeditions 65 and 66. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Space Shuttle Orbiters: From its establishment in 1958, NASA studied aspects of reusable launch vehicles and spacecraft that could return to earth. On January 5, 1972, President Richard Nixon announced that the United States would develop the space shuttle, a delta-winged orbiter about the size of a DC-9 aircraft. Between the first launch on April 12, 1981, and the final landing on July 21, 2011, NASA's space shuttle fleet -- Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour – launched on 135 missions, helped construct the International Space Station and inspired generations. Poster designed by Kennedy Space Center Graphics Department/Greg Lee. Credit: NASA

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 astronauts Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough of NASA, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide speak with Shannon Estenoz, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Thursday, June 9, 2022, during a visit to the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, DC. Kimbrough, McArthur, Hoshide, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet completed the second crew rotation mission to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 198 days aboard the orbiting laboratory as part of Expeditions 65 and 66. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Drew Feustel speaks about his experience on two space shuttle missions, STS-125 and STS-134, and a long duration mission onboard the International Space Station at NASA Headquarters, Thursday, May 9, 2019 in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA astronaut Drew Feustel speaks about his experience on two space shuttle missions, STS-125 and STS-134, and a long duration mission onboard the International Space Station at NASA Headquarters, Thursday, May 9, 2019 in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA astronaut Shannon Walker is interviewed by the media during a visit to Garfield Elementary School with fellow NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, Washington, DC. Walker, Hopkins, Glover, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi launched on the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 168 days in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Koji Tomita, Japan's Ambassador to the US, center, speaks with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 astronauts Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), second from left, and NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough, second from right, and Megan McArthur, Thursday, June 9, 2022, at the Japanese Ambassador’s Residence in Washington, DC. Kimbrough, McArthur, Hoshide, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet completed the second crew rotation mission to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 198 days aboard the orbiting laboratory as part of Expeditions 65 and 66. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Drew Feustel, center, uses frosting and graham crackers to represent the layers of Earths crust while taping a segment of STEM in 30 with Marty Kelsey, left, and Beth Wilson, right, Thursday, May 9, 2019 at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Drew Feustel speaks about his experience on two space shuttle missions, STS-125 and STS-134, and a long duration mission onboard the International Space Station at NASA Headquarters, Thursday, May 9, 2019 in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA astronaut Drew Feustel, center, tapes a segment of STEM in 30 with Marty Kelsey, left, and Beth Wilson, right, Thursday, May 9, 2019 at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins speaks with students about his time aboard the International Space Station during the Crew-1 mission, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at Garfield Elementary School in Washington, DC. Hopkins and fellow NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi launched on the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 168 days in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Drew Feustel, center, uses frosting and graham crackers to represent the layers of Earths crust while taping a segment of STEM in 30 with Marty Kelsey, left, and Beth Wilson, right, Thursday, May 9, 2019 at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Shannon Walker speaks with students about her time aboard the International Space Station during the Crew-1 mission, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at Garfield Elementary School in Washington, DC. Walker and fellow NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Mike Hopkins, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi launched on the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 168 days in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

ER-2 #809 awaiting pilot entry for the third flight of the SAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment (SOLVE). The ER-2, a civilian variant of Lockheed's U-2, and another NASA flying laboratory, Dryden's DC-8, were based north of the Arctic Circle in Kiruna, Sweden during the winter of 2000 to study ozone depletion as part of SOLVE. A large hangar built especially for research, "Arena Arctica" housed the instrumented aircraft and the scientists. Scientists have observed unusually low levels of ozone over the Arctic during recent winters, raising concerns that ozone depletion there could become more widespread as in the Antarctic ozone hole. The NASA-sponsored international mission took place between November 1999 and March 2000 and was divided into three phases. The DC-8 was involved in all three phases returning to Dryden between each phase. The ER-2 flew sample collection flights between January and March, remaining in Sweden from Jan. 9 through March 16. "The collaborative campaign will provide an immense new body of information about the Arctic stratosphere," said program scientist Dr. Michael Kurylo, NASA Headquarters. "Our understanding of the Earth's ozone will be greatly enhanced by this research."

NASA ER-2 # 809 and its DC-8 shown in Arena Arctica before the SAGE III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment (SOLVE). The two airborne science platforms were based north of the Arctic Circle in Kiruna, Sweden, during the winter of 2000 to study ozone depletion as part of SOLVE. A large hangar built especially for research, "Arena Arctica" housed the instrumented aircraft and the scientists. Scientists have observed unusually low levels of ozone over the Arctic during recent winters, raising concerns that ozone depletion there could become more widespread as in the Antarctic ozone hole. The NASA-sponsored international mission took place between November 1999 and March 2000 and was divided into three phases. The DC-8 was involved in all three phases returning to Dryden between each phase. The ER-2 flew sample collection flights between January and March, remaining in Sweden from Jan. 9 through March 16. "The collaborative campaign will provide an immense new body of information about the Arctic stratosphere," said program scientist Dr. Michael Kurylo, NASA Headquarters. "Our understanding of the Earth's ozone will be greatly enhanced by this research."

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A NASA C-9 “Pathfinder” DC-9 takes off from the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of space shuttle Discovery, which is bolted to the top of a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. The craft are set to begin their 3 1/2 hour ferry flight to the Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia at about 7 a.m. EDT. The Pathfinder will fly about 100 miles ahead of the attached pair, making sure the flight path is free of harmful weather or hazardous conditions. Discovery is leaving Kennedy after more than 28 years of service beginning with its arrival on the space coast Nov. 9, 1983. Discovery first launched to space Aug. 30, 1984, on the STS-41D mission. Discovery is the agency's most-flown shuttle with 39 missions, more than 148 million miles and a total of one year in space. Discovery is set to move to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center on April 19 where it will be placed on public display. For more information on the SCA, visit http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/FactSheets/FS-013-DFRC.html. For more information on shuttle transition and retirement activities, visit http://www.nasa.gov/transition. Photo credit: NASA/Frankie Martin

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A NASA C-9 “Pathfinder” DC-9 prepares for takeoff from the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of space shuttle Discovery, which is bolted to the top of a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. The craft are set to begin their 3 1/2 hour ferry flight to the Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia at about 7 a.m. EDT. The Pathfinder will fly about 100 miles ahead of the attached pair, making sure the flight path is free of harmful weather or hazardous conditions. Discovery is leaving Kennedy after more than 28 years of service beginning with its arrival on the space coast Nov. 9, 1983. Discovery first launched to space Aug. 30, 1984, on the STS-41D mission. Discovery is the agency's most-flown shuttle with 39 missions, more than 148 million miles and a total of one year in space. Discovery is set to move to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center on April 19 where it will be placed on public display. For more information on the SCA, visit http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/FactSheets/FS-013-DFRC.html. For more information on shuttle transition and retirement activities, visit http://www.nasa.gov/transition. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

ISS009-E-12760 (24 June 2004) --- Astronaut Edward M. (Mike) Fincke, Expedition 9 NASA ISS science officer and flight engineer, wearing thermal undergarment, floats in the Pirs Docking Compartment of the International Space Station (ISS).

ISS009-E-12756 (24 June 2004) --- Cosmonaut Gennady I. Padalka, Expedition 9 commander representing Russia’s Federal Space Agency, wearing his Russian Orlan spacesuit, floats in the Pirs Docking Compartment of the International Space Station (ISS).

ISS009-E-28562 (2 August 2004) --- Cosmonaut Gennady I. Padalka (left), Expedition 9 commander representing Russia’s Federal Space Agency, and astronaut Edward M. (Mike) Fincke, NASA ISS science officer and flight engineer, pose with their Russian Orlan spacesuits in the Pirs Docking Compartment of the International Space Station (ISS).

ISS009-E-10922 (10 June 2004) --- Astronaut Edward M. (Mike) Fincke (left), Expedition 9 NASA ISS science officer and flight engineer, and cosmonaut Gennady I. Padalka, commander representing Russia’s Federal Space Agency, pose for a photo with their Russian Orlan spacesuits in the Pirs Docking Compartment of the International Space Station (ISS). Extravehicular activity (EVA) is scheduled for June 24.

ISS009-E-10915 (10 June 2004) --- Astronaut Edward M. (Mike) Fincke, Expedition 9 NASA ISS science officer and flight engineer, is pictured with his Russian Orlan spacesuit in the Pirs Docking Compartment of the International Space Station (ISS). Extravehicular activity (EVA) is scheduled for June 24.

ISS009-E-10912 (10 June 2004) --- Cosmonaut Gennady I. Padalka, Expedition 9 commander representing Russia’s Federal Space Agency, is pictured with his Russian Orlan spacesuit in the Pirs Docking Compartment of the International Space Station (ISS). Extravehicular activity (EVA) is scheduled for June 24.

ISS009-E-17071 (30 July 2004) --- Astronaut Edward M. (Mike) Fincke, Expedition 9 NASA ISS science officer and flight engineer, wearing a spacesuit thermal undergarment and communication headgear, poses for a photo in the Pirs Docking Compartment of the International Space Station (ISS).

Koji Tomita, Japan's Ambassador to the US, second from left, poses for a picture with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 astronauts Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), left, and NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough, second from right, and Megan McArthur, after being presented with a montage from their mission, Thursday, June 9, 2022, at the Japanese Ambassador’s Residence in Washington, DC. Kimbrough, McArthur, Hoshide, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet completed the second crew rotation mission to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 198 days aboard the orbiting laboratory as part of Expeditions 65 and 66. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Drew Feustel speaks about his experiences on two space shuttle missions, STS-125 and STS-134, and a long duration mission onboard the International Space Station during “What’s New in Aerospace,” Thursday, May 9, 2019 at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronauts Victor Glover, back left, Mike Hopkins, middle, and Shannon Walker, front right, speak with students about his time aboard the International Space Station, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at Ben’s Chili Bowl in Washington, DC. Students from Cardozo Educational Campus, Friendship Technology Preparatory High School, McKinley Technical High School, Phelps High School, and Wilson High School heard NASA astronauts Glover, Hopkins, and Walker speak about the Crew-1 mission, the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and the 168 days they spent in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Megan McArthur shows pictures of National Parks taken from the International Space Station during Expeditions 65 and 66 during a presentation to leadership and rangers who participate in the National Park Service’s astronomy and dark sky programs, Thursday, June 9, 2022 at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, DC. McArthur, NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet, flew on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 mission, the second crew rotation mission to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program, and spent 198 days aboard the orbiting laboratory as part of Expeditions 65 and 66. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Shannon Walker speaks with students from about his time aboard the International Space Station, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at Ben’s Chili Bowl in Washington, DC. Students from Cardozo Educational Campus, Friendship Technology Preparatory High School, McKinley Technical High School, Phelps High School, and Wilson High School heard NASA astronauts Walker, Mike Hopkins, and Victor Glover speak about the Crew-1 mission, the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and the 168 days they spent in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Drew Feustel poses for a photo with the NASA Human Exploration and Operations team just after speaking about his experience on two space shuttle missions, STS-125 and STS-134, and a long duration mission onboard the International Space Station at NASA Headquarters, Thursday, May 9, 2019 in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins speaks with students about his time aboard the International Space Station, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at Ben’s Chili Bowl in Washington, DC. Students from Cardozo Educational Campus, Friendship Technology Preparatory High School, McKinley Technical High School, Phelps High School, and Wilson High School heard NASA astronauts Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker speak about the Crew-1 mission, the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and the 168 days they spent in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins speaks with students about his time aboard the International Space Station, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at Ben’s Chili Bowl in Washington, DC. Students from Cardozo Educational Campus, Friendship Technology Preparatory High School, McKinley Technical High School, Phelps High School, and Wilson High School heard NASA astronauts Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker speak about the Crew-1 mission, the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and the 168 days they spent in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Spacelab is wrapped and ready for transport to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Spacelab was designed by the European Space Agency (ESA) for the Space Shuttle program and first flew on STS-9 in November 1983. Its final flight was the STS-90 Neurolab mission in April 1998. A sister module will travel home and be placed on display in Europe. The Spacelab concept of modular experiment racks in a pressurized shirt-sleeve environment made it highly user-friendly and accessible. Numerous experiments conceived by hundreds of scientists on the ground were conducted by flight crews in orbit. Spacelab modules served as on-orbit homes for everything from squirrel monkeys to plant seeds. They supported astronomical as well as Earth observations, for servicing the Hubble Space Telescope and for research preparatory to the International Space Station. One of the greatest benefits afforded by the Spacelab missions was the opportunity to fly a mission more than once, with the second or third flight building on the experiences and data gathered from its predecessors

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum curators Jennifer Levasseur, left, and Jeremy Kinney, center, speak with NASA astronaut Drew Feustel about photographing racetracks around the world during his time onboard the International Space Station during “What’s New in Aerospace,” Thursday, May 9, 2019 at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Shannon Walker speaks with students from about his time aboard the International Space Station, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at Ben’s Chili Bowl in Washington, DC. Students from Cardozo Educational Campus, Friendship Technology Preparatory High School, McKinley Technical High School, Phelps High School, and Wilson High School heard NASA astronauts Walker, Mike Hopkins, and Victor Glover speak about the Crew-1 mission, the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and the 168 days they spent in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Shannon Estenoz, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks at the Department of the Interior, delivers remarks during a visit by NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 astronauts with leadership and rangers who participate in the National Park Service’s astronomy and dark sky programs, Thursday, June 9, 2022 at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, DC. NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet completed the second crew rotation mission to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 198 days aboard the orbiting laboratory as part of Expeditions 65 and 66. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins speaks with students about his time aboard the International Space Station, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at Ben’s Chili Bowl in Washington, DC. Students from Cardozo Educational Campus, Friendship Technology Preparatory High School, McKinley Technical High School, Phelps High School, and Wilson High School heard NASA astronauts Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker speak about the Crew-1 mission, the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and the 168 days they spent in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum curators Jennifer Levasseur, left, and Jeremy Kinney, center, speak with NASA astronaut Drew Feustel about his experiences on two space shuttle missions, STS-125 and STS-134, and a long duration mission onboard the International Space Station during “What’s New in Aerospace,” Thursday, May 9, 2019 at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA astronaut Victor Glover speaks with students about his time aboard the International Space Station, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at Ben’s Chili Bowl in Washington, DC. Students from Cardozo Educational Campus, Friendship Technology Preparatory High School, McKinley Technical High School, Phelps High School, and Wilson High School heard NASA astronauts Glover, Mike Hopkins, and Shannon Walker speak about the Crew-1 mission, the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and the 168 days they spent in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

SpaceX Crew-1 NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins, center, displays one of the gifts that he received while living at the International Space Station, while he and crew mates NASA astronaut Shannon Walker, left, and Victor Glover, right, answer questions by students from the Learn DC public charter school at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB), Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Washington. Hopkins, Glover, Walker, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi, launched on the first crew rotation mission to the International Space Station for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 168 days in space across Expeditions 64 and 65. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum curators Jennifer Levasseur, left, and Jeremy Kinney, center, speak with NASA astronaut Drew Feustel about his experiences on two space shuttle missions, STS-125 and STS-134, and a long duration mission onboard the International Space Station during “What’s New in Aerospace,” Thursday, May 9, 2019 at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Shannon Estenoz, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks at the Department of the Interior, delivers remarks during a visit by NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 astronauts with leadership and rangers who participate in the National Park Service’s astronomy and dark sky programs, Thursday, June 9, 2022 at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, DC. NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet completed the second crew rotation mission to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program and spent 198 days aboard the orbiting laboratory as part of Expeditions 65 and 66. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum curators Jennifer Levasseur, left, and Jeremy Kinney, center, speak with NASA astronaut Drew Feustel about his experiences on two space shuttle missions, STS-125 and STS-134, and a long duration mission onboard the International Space Station during “What’s New in Aerospace,” Thursday, May 9, 2019 at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum curators Jennifer Levasseur, left, and Jeremy Kinney, center, speak with NASA astronaut Drew Feustel about his experiences on two space shuttle missions, STS-125 and STS-134, and a long duration mission onboard the International Space Station during “What’s New in Aerospace,” Thursday, May 9, 2019 at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum curator Jeremy Kinney, right, and NASA astronaut Drew Feustel, left, are seen as a short video about Feustel’s mission to the International Space Station is shown during “What’s New in Aerospace,” Thursday, May 9, 2019 at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Feustel most recently spent 197 days living and working onboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 55 and as commander of Expedition 56. Feustel ventured outside the space station on three spacewalks, moving him up to second among U.S. spacewalkers with a cumulative time of 61 hours 48 minutes over nine spacewalks. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)