When was NASA Langley established and where is it located?
NASA Langley was established by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics later in 1917. The center opened its doors on Langley Field in Hampton, Virginia.
Questions about Langley Research Center
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who were the West Area Computers at NASA Langley and when did they work there?
African American female mathematicians worked as human computers at the center from 1943 through 1958. They were known as the West Area Computers because they labored in Langley's West Area under strict segregation rules until the late 1950s.
What major wind tunnel projects has NASA Langley developed since the 1940s?
The center created standards for grooving aircraft runways to reduce aquaplaning and improved tire grip in heavy rain. Work began in July 2011 to remove the transonic wind tunnel built in the 1940s which had been inactive since 2004 despite supporting military aircraft development.
Which directors led NASA Langley between 1922 and 2025?
Leigh M. Griffith served as Engineer-in-Charge from the 1st of November 1922 through the 31st of December 1925. Trina Dyal has led the center since the 22nd of February 2025 after Dawn Schaible acted as director from the 16th of July 2024 to the 22nd of February 2025.
How did John Stack and Richard T. Whitcomb advance aviation technology at NASA Langley?
John Stack received the Collier Trophy in 1947 for his research into supersonic flight laws that determined physical forces affecting aircraft moving faster than sound. Richard T. Whitcomb developed the area rule in 1954 to reduce wing drag during transonic flight allowing planes to reach higher speeds with less power.