"Smithsonian Showcases SpaceX's Historic Flight-Proven Rocket Hardware"

SpaceX has donated a Merlin engine and a grid fin to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., marking the first examples of SpaceX hardware in the museum's collection. The artifacts, which were used in various Falcon 9 rocket launches, will be displayed in an upcoming exhibition exploring the future of spaceflight. The donated items include a Merlin engine that flew on the first stages of two Falcon 9 rockets and a grid fin that helped deliver SpaceX its 19th recovered first stage. The artifacts will be showcased when the museum reopens its east wing after undergoing renovation.