Aviation & Space Exploration Documents

From ancient to modern times, people have studied "the heavens" and wondered "what's out there?" Technology helps us to take a closer look. Meet the pioneers of space and aviation in this collection of stories.

After Bessie Coleman successfully completed her flight training, and was awarded her pilot's license in France, Robert Abbott published stories about ...

Dr. Richard Feynman was always known for speaking his mind. When his work led him to a conclusion which seemed at odds with the conclusions (or desire...

Returning to the Earth's atmosphere, from a journey to space, astronauts aboard the orbiter see what they call a "light show." What causes that phenom...

This NASA drawing depicts areas where foam insulation (on the external fuel tank) broke loose during Endeavour's July 15, 2009 ascent.  The shutt...

This NASA photo provides a close-up view of Endeavour's external fuel tank and depicts the areas where insulation broke loose soon after the shuttle's...

The F-1 engine, five of which lifted the Saturn V rocket from Apollo 11's launch pad, had a complex ignition sequence which will be described here.

First Officer Robert Bragg survived the crash, as did the captain and flight engineer.  In NOVA's documentary, The Deadliest Plane Crash, Bragg a...

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) web site provides the following about the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter: The Black Hawk is the primary di...

Because of a sudden fog shrouding the active runway (which was also used as the active taxiway), the Pan Am crew could not see the third exit (referre...

When members of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) issued their findings on the disaster's cause, those findings coincided with the conc...

The Primary Shuttle Landing Facility, at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), is designed for returning Space Shuttle Orbiters.  Opened in 1976, the runwa...

On the 19th of May, 1900, Wilbur Wright sent a letter to Octave Chanute.  In it, he discusses a serious "illness" which he has.  The cure, f...

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