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NASA Langley 100: Innovation at 100

Air travel, spaceflight, robotic solar-system missions: science fiction to those alive at the turn of the 20th century became science fact to those living in the 21st. America’s aerospace future has been literally made at NASA’s Langley Research Center by the best and brightest the U.S. can offer. What follows are some of the many highlights from a century of ingenuity and invention.

This is a vector graphic of a plane soaring over a horizon. There is text in the image that reads "Inventing The Future" and "A Storied Legacy, A Soaring Future."
NASA

Making the Modern Airplane

In times of peace and war, NASA Langley helped to create a better airplane, including unique wing shapes, sturdier structures, the first engine cowlings, and drag cleanup that enabled the Allies to win World War II.

This is a photo of the Navy's Brewster XF2A-1 Buffalo mounted in the Full-Scale Tunnel for drag reduction studies.
In 1938, Langley mounted the navy’s Brewster XF2A-1 Buffalo in the Full-Scale Tunnel for drag reduction studies.
NACA

Wind Goes to Work

Langley broke new ground in aeronautical research with a suite of first-of-their-kind wind tunnels that led to numerous advances in commercial, military and vertical flight, such as helicopters and other rotorcraft.

NASA Langley’s 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel
Airflow turning vanes in Langley’s 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel.
NASA

Aeronautics Breakthroughs

Aviation Hall of Famer Richard Whitcomb’s area rule made practical jet flight a reality and, thanks to his development of winglets and the supercritical wing, enabled jets to save fuel and fly more efficiently.

Richard Whitcomb examines a model aircraft incorporating his area rule.
Richard Whitcomb examines a model aircraft incorporating his area rule.
NASA

Making Space

Langley researchers laid the foundation for the U.S. manned space program, played a critical role in the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs, and developed the lunar-orbit rendezvous concept that made the Moon landing possible.

Neil Armstrong trained for the historic Apollo 11 mission at the Lunar Landing Research Facility,
Neil Armstrong trained for the historic Apollo 11 mission at the Lunar Landing Research Facility,
NASA

Safer Air Above and Below

Langley research into robust aircraft design and construction, runway safety grooving, wind shear, airspace management and lightning protection has aimed to minimize, even eliminate air-travel mishaps.

NASA’s Boeing 737 as it approached a thunderstorm during microburst wind shear research in Colorado in 1992.
NASA’s Boeing 737 as it approached a thunderstorm during microburst wind shear research in Colorado in 1992.
NASA

Tracking Earth from Aloft

Development by Langley of a variety of satellite-borne instrumentation has enabled real-time monitoring of planet-wide atmospheric chemistry, air quality, upper-atmosphere ozone concentrations, the effects of clouds and air-suspended particles on climate, and other conditions affecting Earth’s biosphere.

This is a gif of satellite-borne instrumentation being deployed over Earth. There is text in the gif that reads "NASA Hurricane Forecasting Technology."
Development by Langley of a variety of satellite-borne instrumentation has enabled real-time monitoring of planet-wide atmospheric chemistry, air quality, upper-atmosphere ozone concentrations, the effects of clouds and air-suspended particles on climate, and other conditions affecting Earth’s biosphere.
NASA

Crucial Shuttle Contributions

Among a number of vital contributions to the creation of the U.S. fleet of space shuttles, Langley developed preliminary shuttle designs and conducted 60,000 hours of wind tunnel tests to analyze aerodynamic forces affecting shuttle launch, flight and landing.

A NASA model of a space shuttle installed in Langley's 16 foot Transonic Tunnel.
A NASA model of a space shuttle installed in Langley’s 16 foot Transonic Tunnel.
NASA

Decidedly Digital

Helping aeronautics transition from analog to digital, Langley has worked on aircraft controls, glass cockpits, computer-aided synthetic vision and a variety of safety-enhancing onboard sensors to better monitor conditions while airborne and on the ground.

Langley Aerospace research engineer Kyle Ellis uses computer-aided synthetic vision technology in a flight deck simulator.
Aerospace research engineer Kyle Ellis uses computer-aided synthetic vision technology in a flight deck simulator.
NASA

Fast, Faster, Fastest

Langley continues to study ways to make higher-speed air travel a reality, from about twice the speed of sound – supersonic – to multiple times: hypersonic.

This is a photo of the U.S. Air Force's Ground Demonstration Engine, known as GDE-2, at the NASA Langley's 8 ft high-temperature tunnel.
Langley continues to study ways to make higher-speed air travel a reality, from about twice the speed of sound – supersonic – to multiple times: hypersonic.
NASA

Safer Space Sojourns

Protecting astronauts from harm is the aim of Langley’s work on the Orion Launch Abort System, while its work on materials and structures for lightweight and affordable space transportation and habitation will keep future space travelers safe.

This is a gif of a motor test of Orion's Launch Abort System.
Protecting astronauts from harm is the aim of Langley’s work on the Orion Launch Abort System, while its work on materials and structures for lightweight and affordable space transportation and habitation will keep future space travelers safe.
NASA

Unmasking the Red Planet

Beginning with its leadership role in Project Viking, Langley has helped to unmask Martian mysteries with a to-date involvement in seven Mars missions, with participation in more likely to come.

This is a photo from surface of Mars as seen from the Viking 2 lander.
The surface of Mars as seen from the Viking 2 lander.
NASA

Touchdown Without Terror

Langley’s continued work on advanced entry, descent and landing systems aims to make touchdowns on future planetary missions routinely safe and secure.

This is an artist concept of NASA's Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator, an entry, descent and landing technology, descending to the Martian surface.
Artist concept of NASA’s Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator – an entry, descent and landing technology.
NASA

Going Green

Helping to create environmentally benign aeronautical technologies has been a focus of Langley research, including concepts to reduce drag, weight, fuel consumption, emissions, and lessen noise.

This gif of the X-59, NASA's quiet supersonic aircraft. There is text in the gif that reads "Quiet Supersonic Technology."
NASA

Intrepid Inventors

With a history developing next-generation composite structures and components, Langley innovators continue to garner awards for a variety of aerospace inventions with a wide array of terrestrial applications.

This is a visualization of a single nanotube, which looks like hexagonal compounds woven together in a cylindrical shape, isolated on a white background.
Boron Nitride Nanotubes: High performance, multi-use nanotube material.
NASA