America 250: The Air & Space Power Story

Arkansas | America 250: Air and Space Power Story — Ep. 25

This week we visit Arkansas! The “Natural State” was the home of Louise Thaden, a pioneering female aviator who set multiple flying records, including the women’s altitude record in 1928, plus records for speed and endurance in 1929. Those flying into Bentonville, AR will take off and land at Thaden Field. On the space side, Arkansas suppliers provide important components for NASA’s Artemis program.

Missouri | America 250: Air and Space Power Story — Ep. 24

This week we visit Missouri! The "Show Me State" is a long-standing center of air and space power industrial production. The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation—founded in St Louis during 1939—built the Mercury and Gemini capsules for NASA, as well as iconic aircraft like the F-4 Phantom and F-15 Eagle. This production facility is alive and well as part of Boeing.

Maine | America 250: Air and Space Power Story — Ep. 23

This week we visit Maine! Learn about astronauts Charles Hobaugh and Dr. Jessica Meir and the "Vacationland's" contributions to the Artemis program. On the air side, we delve into the state's role in helping form the Civil Air Patrol on the eve of World War II, plus the group's role helping secure the eastern coastline during the conflict.   To learn more, please visit these websites: Civil Air Patrol History [https://me021.cap.gov/about/our-hisotry] Civil Air Patrol: A Story of Unique Service and Selfless Sacrifice [https://www.maxwell.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/1024853/civil-air-patrol-a-story-of-unique-service-and-selfless-sacrifice/] Brunswick Naval Aviation Museum [https://bnamuseum.org/] Charles Hobaugh [https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/hobaugh_charles.pdf] Dr. Jessica Meir [https://www.nasa.gov/people/jessica-u-meir/] NASA’s Moonbound Artemis II Rocket Reaches Launch Pad [https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/01/17/nasas-moonbound-artemis-ii-rocket-reaches-launch-pad/] Maine suppliers for NASA’s Artemis program [https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/maine-nasa-fy21-eir-state-sheet.pdf] The Mitchell Institute is a supporting partner of America250 [https://america250.org/]

Alabama | America 250: Air and Space Power Story — Ep. 22

This week we visit Alabama! Learn about the incredible contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen, who fought a dual war against both discrimination and Axis forces during World War II. Alabama is also home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, which provides vital propulsion systems and hardware for NASA’s space programs.   To learn more, please visit these websites: New Home for U.S. Space Command [https://www.spacecom.mil/] U.S. Space & Rocket Center [https://www.rocketcenter.com/] U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command [https://www.smdc.army.mil/] Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site [https://www.nps.gov/tuai/index.htm] The Tuskegee Airmen: Training and Stateside Experiences (Teaching with Historic Places) [https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/the-tuskegee-airmen-training-and-stateside-experiences-teaching-with-historic-places.htm] Red Tails, The Tuskegee Airmen in Photos [https://www.airandspaceforces.com/red-tails-the-tuskegee-airmen-in-photos/] Red Tail F-35's Unveiled [https://www.dvidshub.net/image/8233742/red-tail-f-35s-unveiled]

Illinois | America 250: Air and Space Power Story — Ep. 21

This week we visit Illinois! Learn how the USS Wolverine and USS Sable— originally Great Lakes luxury cruise liners that were converted into aircraft carriers—helped train thousands of naval aviators during World War II. On the space side, the Prairie State is the home of 15 astronauts and the Henry Crown Space Center at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, where visitors can see the Apollo 8 Command Module, Mercury 7 capsule, and a SpaceX dragon capsule.