The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum has announced a $25 million gift from aerospace and defense conglomerate Raytheon Technologies in support of an exhibition, "Living in the Space Age," scheduled to open in 2025.

The exhibition will show visitors how innovations in space technology—from rockets and satellites to communications, navigation, and spacesuits—have a profound impact on their daily lives. The 11,800-square-foot gallery will be a hub for STEM learning through interactive programming led by paid high school- and college-age docents from the museum’s Explainers program, helping visitors understand concepts, artifacts, and exhibits through hands-on activities.

"Raytheon Technologies’ transformative gift will help us reimagine one of the museum’s most popular galleries for the next generation of innovators," said museum acting director Chris Browne. "The large-scale artifacts on display in the gallery will create a powerful sense of awe and allow us to tell stories about how space exploration affects us all."

"With a renewed focus on space exploration, tomorrow’s technology solutions will be built on the lessons of what got us to the moon and beyond," said Raytheon Technologies chairman and CEO Greg Hayes. "By working with the Smithsonian to inspire and educate the next generation of innovators, we will accelerate and expand what is possible on Mars and countless other new frontiers."

(Photo credit: National Air and Space Museum)