National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Turns 100
Celebrate the Centennial of NASA’s Predecessor: The NACA
“Today marks a special anniversary for the NASA family. It was 100 years ago, on March 3, 1915, when Congress created the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the organization from which NASA was created in 1958. The NACA was formed because our nation’s leaders were concerned the U.S. was losing its edge in aviation technology to Europe, where World War 1 was raging on. Its mission, in part, was to “supervise and direct the scientific study of the problems of flight with a view to their practical solution.” As you all know, we not only regained that edge, but we became the world leaders in civil aviation.”
Long before the Wright brothers, the first U.S. wind tunnel was Congress. 😉
Dear Keith,
The event is going well so far…! As I understand it, the Symposium is being broadcast live on NASA TV if anyone would like to watch some history lectures…!
Best regards,
– John
A good time to say thank you to 4th Smithsonian secretary Charles Walcott and the 63rd Congress for a job well done and congratulations to all who have been a part of N.A.C.A. / NASA in its first century.
2nd day is going well. It is my understanding that NASA TV has live broadcast the event, and that the talks should be available later via you-tube…
Photo of inside page of first annual report of 1915 (list of members from opposite page pasted). Ames Research Center has streets are named after some of these guys, reading their backgrounds… impressive accomplishments.