NASA Langley Research Center

NASA Langley Research Center is a NASA field center in Hampton, Virginia. It was founded on 17 July 1917 and is described by NASA as its first field center. Langley states that it works to make improvements to aviation, expand understanding of Earth's atmosphere and develop technology for space exploration.

Directorates

• Aeronautics Research Directorate: develops faster and more efficient vehicles and traffic management systems
• Engineering Directorate: systems concepts, technology and systems development in support of aeronautics, human exploration and science
• Space Technology and Exploration Directorate
• Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate: analyses advanced aerospace system concepts for NASA decision makers

Facilities

Langley is made up of nearly 200 facilities on 764 acres. Facilities listed on its site include:

• The 14-by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel, described as its busiest wind tunnel, used for low-speed tests of takeoff and landing
• The Flight Dynamics Research Facility, a vertical wind tunnel for flight dynamics research
• The Measurement Systems Laboratory, a 175,000 square foot, five-story building with 40 research labs

Working with Langley

NASA Langley Front Door gives academia, industry and entrepreneurs a route to partner with the center. Langley also runs education and STEM programmes, and its visitor centre is the Virginia Air and Space Science Center.

Company facts

• Founded 17 July 1917
• About 3,400 civil servants and contractors
• Location: Hampton, Virginia, on 764 acres