America250

The Air & Space Power Story
The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is proud to host "America250: The Air & Space Power Story," a year-long short-form podcast series with extensive content highlighting how every U.S. state has contributed to the history and evolution of these domains. Timed with the Nation's 250th anniversary, the series explores iconic places, people, and innovations that have fundamentally shaped airpower and spacepower. This ties to communities across the country. Episodes feature conversations with Mitchell experts, bringing to life national and local stories behind America's air and space advantage.

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Ep. 20

Mississippi

This week we are visiting Mississippi! Astronauts, Stennis Space Center and NASA’s Rocket Propulsion Test Program Office. Plus, the Key Brothers and the pioneering area of operations for Huff Daland Dusters—a crop dusting company that would go on to become Delta Air Lines.

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Ep. 19

Indiana

This week we visit, Indiana! The Hoosier State played a critical role in wartime production during World War II, including the mass production of Republic Aviation’s P-47 Thunderbolt. On the...

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Ep. 18

Louisiana

This week we visit Louisiana! This state is home to the Michoud Assembly Facility, which has built some of our most important spacecraft components. We also learn about the crucial role air racing played in advancing aviation in 1920s and 1930s.

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Ep. 17

Ohio

This week we visit the Buckeye State! Ohio is the home of the Wright Brothers, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. On the space side of the equation, a long line of astronauts called Ohio home, including John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, and Judith Resnik.

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Ep. 16

Tennessee

This week we visit Tennessee! We discuss Lieutenant General Frank Andrews, the Arnold Engineering Development Complex and a thermal vacuum chamber used to ensure satellites can withstand the extreme environment of space.

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Ep. 15

Kentucky

This week we visit Kentucky! U.S. aviation—both civil and military— progressed after World War I thanks to the airmail industry.

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Ep. 14

Vermont

This week we visit Vermont! We discuss the Green Mountain Boys, the Vermont Air National Guard, and more! Plus we highlight key industry players that have a long history of supporting the nation’s space endeavors.

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Ep. 13

Rhode Island

This week we visit Rhode Island! We explore the contributions the US Navy's Seabees made in empowering Army Air Force airpower in the Pacific during World War II. We also learn about spacepower's role in the Ocean State through their astronauts and the Rhode Island Space Grant Consortium.

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Mitchell Institute travels to North Carolina! 10 astronauts, the YF-102A prototype at the Sullenberger Aviation Museum, the sophisticated SAGE air defense system, and the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, which was used as the primary comms relay station between President Nixon and the Apollo 11 crew.

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Ep. 11

New York

This week we visit New York! The World War II industrial powerhouse, the home of 31 NASA astronauts, and Eastman Kodak Company, plus so much more!

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Ep. 10

Virginia

This week we visit Virginia! We talk about the National Reconnaissance Office, Wollops Flight Facility, and Langley Air Force Base, plus the Virginia Air and Space Science Center! Virginia is home of many locations and artifacts that have been instrumental in America’s air and space power story.

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This week we visit New Hampshire! We discuss a massive expansion of critical airpower infrastructure, the first American man in Space, plus a full-sized replica of a Mercury-Redstone rocket. We explore the Grenier Field in Manchester, the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire and the McAuliffe-Shepard Discover Center.

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This week we are travelling to South Carolina! We find the Doolittle Raiders at the South Carolina Historic Aviation Foundation, plus the USS Yorktown and former NASA Administrator Maj. Gen. Charles Borden, USMC (Ret.)—who flew over 100 combat missions in Vietnam and is a 4-time astronaut!

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Ep. 7

Maryland

This week we travel to Maryland! The birthplace of 8 astronauts, home to the NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and we explore College Park Airport.

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This week we travel to the birthplace of America, Massachusetts! The birthplace of space pioneer Robert Goddard and home to MIT’s Lincoln Labs, We also found a powerful reminder of the bravery, sacrifice, and dedication to duty displayed by American POWs at the American Heritage Museum.

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