VIDEO: Shannon Walker’s childhood dream was to become an astronaut. After working for years at NASA, her dream became a reality in 2006 when she completed Astronaut Candidate Training. Her first mission came in 2010 when she was launched aboard a Russian rocket for a stint in the International Space Station.

ON THIS DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY On April 25, 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope is placed into low earth orbit by the crew of the space shuttle Discovery. The telescope, which is about the size of a bus, has a resolution at least ten times more powerful than its earth-based counterparts. Hubble had a troubled start when researchers found that one lens was flawed. The problem was fixed during a dramatic 1993 spacewalk. Since then, Hubble has viewed a comet impacting Jupiter, amazing views of Pluto, stunning images of distant galaxies and a look back billions of years into the universe’s past.

Former Vice President Joe Biden announced Thursday he will seek the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, instantly catapulting him to the top of an increasingly crowded Democratic field vying to challenge U.S. President Donald Trump. VOA takes a look at his long career in politics.

VIDEO: Puerto Rico has yet to recover from Hurricane Maria, which struck the Caribbean island in September 2017. Many residents blame both the local government for being ineffective and also Washington for not providing enough resources to the U.S. Commonwealth. A $13 billion disaster aid package is stalled in Congress because of a dispute between Democrats and President Donald Trump.

A major new exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., explores a complex period in American history. “Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence” offers a rich, visual presentation of the women’s suffrage movement over a span of 130 years. The exhibit also marks the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment.

VIDEO: Imagine stepping into a movie or virtual world and being able to interact with what’s there. That’s now possible through the magic of Hollywood combined with virtual reality technology. For $20, the company Dreamscape takes visitors through a multi-sensory journey. Currently in Los Angeles, creators say they plan on opening more virtual reality venues across the U.S. and eventually to other countries.