Smithsonian Air and Space Magazine
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Executive summary
Air & Space began as a Smithsonian-linked publication chronicling aviation and space topics and was produced commercially by Smithsonian Enterprises as Air & Space/Smithsonian before the publication model changed; the magazine’s print run and archival records are held by Smithsonian archives and library partners [1] [2] [3]. In 2022 the commercial Air & Space magazine was discontinued and replaced by a museum-published Air & Space Quarterly, shifting sponsorship and distribution from Smithsonian Enterprises to the National Air and Space Museum [4] [5].
1. Origins and editorial remit: a Smithsonian voice on flight and exploration
Air & Space launched in the mid-1980s to provide in-depth reporting on the history and current practice of aviation and spaceflight, covering subjects from early flight to contemporary aeronautical technology and military aviation, and intended to draw on the Smithsonian’s institutional expertise [1] [2] [6]. The publication’s remit—blending history, science and contemporary reporting—mirrored the broader Smithsonian Magazine mission of trusted coverage across science, history and culture, and it sometimes featured museum voices such as curators and directors contributing context about exhibits like the National Air and Space Museum’s galleries [7] [8].
2. Publication cadence, formats, and archival footprint
Historically the title was issued bi-monthly under Smithsonian Enterprises (and earlier under Smithsonian Business Ventures), producing regular issues and occasional special editions; the Smithsonian Institution Archives holds extensive accessioned reference sets documenting many volumes and issues [9] [10] [11]. Libraries and commercial archival services, including Gale and academic library databases, have digitized or offered integrated archives combining Air & Space with Smithsonian Magazine, providing researchers searchable access to decades of material [3] [12].
3. Institutional changes and why the magazine “ended” as a commercial product
In 2022 Smithsonian communications and the National Air and Space Museum clarified that Air & Space magazine as a commercial product was discontinued and replaced by Air & Space Quarterly, a museum-produced signature publication focused on celebrating aerospace achievements and future themes like space tourism and hypersonic flight; the change altered the magazine’s commercial model and membership distribution arrangements [4] [5]. The FAQ from the museum frames this as a planned transition rather than an abrupt cancellation: subscribers or society members would receive the new Quarterly as part of reorganized membership benefits, indicating institutional control moved decisively to the museum [4].
4. What this means for readers, researchers, and the editorial independence question
For readers, the shift from a commercially published magazine to a museum-produced quarterly changes editorial incentives: a museum flagship may emphasize celebratory coverage of institutional themes—exhibits, research tied to the museum mission, and optimistic forward-looking narratives like space tourism—while potentially reducing the independent investigative posture usually afforded by a commercial editorial line [4] [5]. Source materials and back-issues remain accessible through the Smithsonian Institution Archives and partner databases, preserving historical independence of past reporting even as future coverage aligns more visibly with the National Air and Space Museum’s priorities [2] [3].
5. Archives, researcher access, and where to look next
Researchers seeking past issues should consult the Smithsonian Institution Archives accession records and reference sets for Air & Space (which document specific volume ranges and issues) and library archives that have combined Air & Space and Smithsonian Magazine collections for searchable digital access [11] [2] [3]. The museum’s Air & Space Quarterly pages and FAQ provide the current publication’s aims and subscription guidance, while the archives’ accession entries and accession notes record the magazine’s production history and institutional custodianship for those investigating editorial changes or tracing particular features and reporting [6] [4] [9].