Follow this link to go to the text only version of nasa.gov
NASA -National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Follow this link to skip to the main content
+ Text Only Site
+ Site Help & Preferences
Go
ABOUT NASALATEST NEWSMULTIMEDIAMISSIONSMyNASAWORK FOR NASA

+ Home
LIFE ON EARTH
MAIN FEATURES
IN EVERYDAY LIFE
LOOKING AT EARTH
THE ENVIRONMENT
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
DEEP SPACE MISSIONS
IMPROVING FLIGHT
 
 + Humans in Space
+ Exploring the Universe
NASA FACT?

The term "aeronautics" originated in France, and was derived from the Greek words for "air" and "to sail."


+ More NASA Facts...
Centennial of FlightX-15
+ NASA Home > Life on Earth > Improving Flight

FEATURES
Wright early glider tests
A Century of Flight
It all started with the imagination and determination of two small boys.
+ Read More
United States Air Force X-15 aircraft. Photo credit: USAF
NASA's Mission Has Roots in Kitty Hawk
From just years after the Wright Brothers' first flight, NACA -- and then NASA -- carried on their pioneering spirit in aeronautics.
+ Read More
Administrator Sean O'Keefe. Photo credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls.
O'Keefe Salutes Centennial of Flight
"While NASA will always aim toward the stars, we also hold dear our Agency's aviation roots, and our continuing involvement in efforts to make aviation safer and more efficient."
+ Read More
Wright flyer replica testing
Wright Flyer Replica
Wind tunnel tests help recreate aircraft history.
+ Read More
First flight image after Retinex
'Wright' Stuff From Famous Photos
If a picture is worth a thousand words, NASA expanded the vocabulary for some vintage Wright Brothers' images.
+ Read More
+ More about Retinex
small single-winged airplane in flight
The Four Forces of Flight
The Wrights had to master lift, thrust, drag and weight before they could make their airplane stay in the air.
+ Read More

Digital Fly By Wire
Seven decades after Kitty Hawk, NASA research puts computers in the drivers seat.
+ Read More
Agate Icon model- computerized image
Taxis with Wings
NASA is developing the technology for planes to land safely at rural and suburban airports
+ Read More
+ View Video
D-558-2 launch from B-29 mothership
Mach 2 Milestone
Reaching Mach 2 in a Douglas Aircraft Co. D-558-II Skyrocket on Nov. 20, 1953 represented a very significant and necessary benchmark on the journey to manned space flight.
+ Read More
+ View Slide Show
RELATED MULTIMEDIA
NASA Celebrates 100 Years of Flight. A Flash Interactive Feature
NASA Celebrates 100 Years of Flight
An interactive feature highlighting NASA's contribution to the first 100 years of flight.
+ View this interactive feature
Click here to view Flash of the History of Flight
History of Flight - Flash
This presentation explores the early pioneers of flight research from Leonardo da Vinci to the Wright brothers.
+ View this interactive feature


RELATED SITES

President Bush's Remarks on whitehouse.gov

+ Visit the website

U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission

+ Visit the website

First Flight Centennial

+ Visit the website

National Air and Space Museum

+ Visit the website

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

+ Visit the website






+ Back to Top


FirstGov - Your First Click to the US Government

ExpectMore.gov

+ Freedom of Information Act
+ Budgets, Strategic Plans and Accountability Reports
+ The President's Management Agenda
+ NASA Privacy Statement, Disclaimer,
and Accessibility Certification

+ Inspector General Hotline
+ Equal Employment Opportunity Data Posted Pursuant to the No Fear Act
+ Information-Dissemination Priorities and Inventories
NASA
Editor: Jim Wilson
NASA Official: Brian Dunbar
Last Updated: February 25, 2006
+ Contact NASA
+ SiteMap