But that doesn’t keep this all from feeling a little icky. Star Wars has had a huge impact on how people think about space, and Disney, with everything it’s made and purchased, has made about as big an impression on culture as a billion-dollar company can make. “Despite taking place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars introduced generations of fans here on Earth to outer space as a setting for adventure and exploration,” shared Margaret Weitekamp, Smithsonian space history chair. Of course Disney wants to continue to advertise its most recent Star Wars film - it’s got a franchise to maintain. What’s striking about calling out The Rise of Skywalker to me is it really adds to the general feeling that including this spaceship is an advertising opportunity for Disney rather than some kind of grand contribution to our national memory of space travel. That’s what Reddit is for, and now, probably, my email inbox. The first red flag I’d like to get out of the way: an X-wing from The Rise of Skywalker? Really? The final film in the Skywalker Saga is not exactly beloved, but we don’t really need to rehash that here. Image: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center.” The X-wing starfighter in the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar. The Smithsonian says the X-wing in question is from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and will be displayed outside the museum’s Albert Einstein Planetarium after undergoing “conservation in the Restoration Hangar in the Steven F. The museum announced today that the famous ship would be going on display in 2022, via a prop loan from the Disney-owned production company, Lucasfilm. Although it’s not as bad as the promotions that come out of the woodwork on April Fools’ Day, I think I’m drawing the line at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum adding an X-wing Starfighter from Star Wars to its collection. May Fourth is informally the Star Wars Day holiday, which random brands typically use to hawk their wares.