NASA Langley Research Center performs innovative aerospace research relevant to national needs. The Center manages for NASA high-payoff programs in atmospheric sciences, airframe systems, high-speed research and advanced subsonics. NASA Langley is the Agency's Center of Excellence for structures and materials research and is the focal point for wind tunnels as well as aerothermodynamic and structural test facilities. NASA Langley is recognized as the Agency expert for airborne systems, aerodynamics, mission and systems analysis, and hypersonic technologies.
NASA Langley's research includes systems analysis/integration/assessment, aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics, hypersonic propulsion structures, materials, airborne systems including crew station design and integration, atmospheric sciences and remote sensing--a one-stop shopping for aeronautics and related space technology and atmospheric science.
Seventy percent of NASA Langley's effort is in aeronautics research, working to improve today's aircraft and to develop concepts for future aircraft. NASA Langley is developing technologies to enable aircraft to fly faster, farther, safer and to be more maneuverable, quieter, less expensive to manufacture, and more energy efficient. Langley has transferred to industry what it has learned about wind shear, a factor in over 50 percent of U.S. airline fatalities in recent years. Langley is lead center for managing the agency's technology development programs for a future High-Speed Civil Transport that will reduce travel time for many over-water flight routes, for hypersonic vehicles, and for general aviation.
NASA Langley also supports the Nation's space programs by conducting a dynamic program in atmospheric sciences, seeking a more detailed understanding of the origins, chemistry and transport mechanisms that govern the Earth's atmosphere. Langley serves as the space systems analysis lead for NASA, conducting program evaluations for the Office of the Chief Engineer and independent assessments for all the major space programs in the Agency. Langley researchers also develop technology for advanced space transportation systems and for small spacecraft and instruments.
Established in 1917 as the first national civil aeronautical research laboratory, the Center continues to shape aerospace history. Today, Langley remains dedicated to serving traditional aerospace customers and to transferring aerospace technology to nontraditional commercial users. The taxpayer's investment in NASA is an investment in the technical strength and economic vitality of the Nation.
In alliance with industry, other agencies and academia, NASA Langley develops airframe and synergistic space frame systems technologies to assure preeminence of the U.S. civil and military aeronautics and space industries. In alliance with the global research community, NASA Langley pioneers the scientific understanding of the Earth's atmosphere to preserve the environment.
NASA Langley's mission will be accomplished by:
Specifically, we will strive to enhance our premier research capability and contributions in the following disciplines:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Center will exploit opportunities for synergistic applications of the above disciplines in the development of technology for the following aerospace systems:
Our success will be measured by the extent to which our research results and technologies contribute to the design, development, and operation of future aerospace vehicles and missions and to the overall economic competitiveness of U.S. industry.
Since inception, NASA Langley's research has broken numerous barriers in aerospace and made aircraft faster, cheaper, and safer. Among more recent accomplishments, NASA Langley's research has resulted in technology developed with industry that promises to save lives around the globe. For example, aging aircraft will fly safer and longer because of NASA Langley's nondestructive methods to find structural disbonds, cracks, and corrosion. A growing number of airline pilots now have up to 30 seconds advance warning of dangerous microbursts, a major cause of airline accidents in the 1980s. Crashworthiness of light planes will also increase as a result of Langley research on energy-absorbing seats, crushable subfloors, improved seat belt mounts and air bags. In the future, passengers will experience lower costs and reduced travel time for many over-water flight routes because of Langley's technology development for a High-Speed Civil Transport. In addition, Langley has managed such well-known programs as Project Mercury and the Viking mission to Mars. Langley has also made significant contributions to programs such as Apollo, space shuttle and space station as well as improved our understanding of natural and human-induced changes in the Earth's atmosphere.
Dr. Jeremiah F. Creedon
Located in Hampton, Virginia. NASA Langley Research Center occupies 788 acres of government-owned land and shares aircraft runways, utilities, and some facilities with the neighboring Langley Air Force Base (LAFB).
|
FY |
NASA-WIDE |
Langley* |
|
1992 |
14,333.5 |
593.8 |
|
1993 |
14,330.4 |
590.3 |
|
1994 |
14,548.9 |
713.3 |
|
1995 |
13,996.4 |
666.3 |
|
1996 |
13,820.7 |
624.6 |
|
Virginia economy |
$210.0M |
|
Awards to businesses |
189.8M |
|
Non-profit institutions |
8.1M |
|
Educational institutions |
12.1M |
|
Hampton Roads economy |
$180.7M |
|
Awards to businesses |
165.2M |
|
Non-profit institutions |
8.1M |
|
Educational institutions |
7.4M |
Note: Hampton Roads figures are included in Virginia figures.
Does not include civil service and contractor payroll.
Civil service full-time, permanent employees: 2,462
Civil service nonpermanent employees: 100
Note: Civil service employees on board as of September 30,
1996;
maximum positions authorized varies from actual number of employees
at any given time.
1996 Salaries/benefits: $174.6M (includes all compensation)
Highest degree earned
|
Doctoral |
291 |
11.8% |
|
Masters |
588 |
23.8% |
|
Bachelor |
617 |
25.0% |
|
Associate |
431 |
17.5% |
|
Some college |
302 |
12.2% |
|
H.S. diploma |
227 |
9.2% |
|
Less than H.S. diploma |
6 |
0.5% |
|
Total |
2,462 |
100% |
|
Scientific/engineering |
1,237 |
50.1% |
|
Administrative |
286 |
11.6% |
|
Tech/craft/production |
735 |
30.0% |
|
Clerical |
204 |
8.3% |
|
Total |
2,462 |
100% |
|
Hampton |
617 |
25.1% |
|
York County |
520 |
21.1% |
|
Newport News |
461 |
18.7% |
|
Poquoson |
229 |
9.3% |
|
Williamsburg |
148 |
6.0% |
|
Gloucester |
119 |
4.8% |
|
Norfolk |
48 |
2.0% |
|
Virginia Beach |
41 |
1.7% |
|
Chesapeake |
28 |
1.1% |
|
Suffolk |
24 |
1.0% |
|
Portsmouth |
19 |
0.7% |
|
Other |
208 |
8.5% |
|
Total |
2,462 |
100% |
NASA Langley depends on commercial business for many of its day-to-day support activities and operations.
Note: Contract employment shown is for multi-year program support contracts. It does not include contractor employees for short-term work, generally a year or less, and those working on Construction of Facility projects.
Contract Categories Number of Contracts
|
Automatic Data Processing and Instrumentation Support |
8 |
|
Installation Maintenance and Operation Support |
12 |
|
Research Facility Operation and Maintenance Support |
2 |
|
Models and Fabrication Support |
2 |
|
Research and Development Support |
5 |
|
Total |
29 |
Zip code No. employees Zip code No. employees Zip code No. employees
02139 1 23181 1 23517 2
20004 1 23183 7 23518 5
20016 1 23184 2 23601 114
20657 1 23185 113 23602 192
20746 1 23188 30 23603 1
20771 1 23190 1 23605 25
21046 1 23235 1 23606 108
21144 1 23304 1 23607 28
22030 1 23314 20 23608 75
22079 1 23320 11 23609 2
22578 1 23321 10 23661 51
22666 1 23322 2 23662 228
23001 3 23326 1 23663 29
23003 2 23324 2 23664 81
23011 1 23424 1 23665 2
23018 2 23430 23 23666 290
23025 1 23432 1 23669 211
23035 1 23433 7 23690 16
23056 1 23434 8 23692 257
23061 37 23435 5 23693 203
23062 14 23436 1 23696 42
23072 26 23451 4 23701 4
23076 1 23452 5 23702 1
23079 1 23454 3 23703 11
23089 1 23455 7 23707 3
23107 1 23456 3 23866 1
23109 5 23458 1 23883 3
23119 1 23462 4 23898 3
23128 5 23464 14 24064 1
23130 2 23487 4 30309 1
23131 1 23502 4 30331 1
23138 2 23503 15 38860 1
23140 1 23504 1 39759 1
23141 1 23505 6 45440 1
23149 1 23507 4 45701 1
23165 1 23508 5 60174 1
23168 4 23509 2 66047 1
23169 1 23510 2 83402 1
23178 1 23513 2 Total:
Employees 2,462
Zip Codes 116
|
School |
Number |
|
Averett College |
1 |
|
Christopher Newport University |
72 |
|
College of William and Mary |
82 |
|
College of William and Mary: Central Office |
4 |
|
Richard Bland College of William and Mary |
1 |
|
Eastern Shore Community College |
1 |
|
Emory and Henry College |
2 |
|
George Mason |
1 |
|
Hampden-Sydney College |
1 |
|
Hampton University |
11 |
|
James Madison University |
6 |
|
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College |
2 |
|
Longwood College |
1 |
|
Lynchburg College |
2 |
|
Mary Washington College |
2 |
|
New River Community College |
1 |
|
Norfolk State University |
16 |
|
Northern Virginia Community College |
1 |
|
Old Dominion University |
203 |
|
Radford University |
1 |
|
Randolph-Macon College |
1 |
|
Rappahannock Community College |
2 |
|
Roanoke College |
1 |
|
Tidewater Community College |
21 |
|
Thomas Nelson Community College |
419 |
|
University of Richmond |
8 |
|
University of Virginia |
84 |
|
University of Virginia: Central Office |
1 |
|
Virginia Commonwealth University |
15 |
|
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
234 |
|
Virginia State University |
6 |
|
Virginia Union University |
1 |
|
Virginia Wesleyan College |
2 |
|
Washington and Lee University |
1 |
Total Langley civil service employees with at least one degree from a Virginia school: 1,207
To better reflect the needs of its customers and to respond to changing national priorities, NASA Langley Research Center includes the following organizational elements:
The Advanced Subsonic Technology Program (ASTP) Office provides overall management of the Agency program for subsonic aircraft technology development. In addition, ASTP provides technical leadership for airframe systems technologies that are essential for future subsonic aircraft. These technologies include safety, noise reduction, aerodynamic design methods, and composite structures. ASTP also performs the technology integration role for both NASA Center and industry-led technology developments to ensure effective assessments of advanced technology.
To increase NASA Langley's efforts in developing technology for aerospace transportation, the Advanced Transportation Technology Program (ATTP) Office plans and coordinates the research and technology for advanced transportation systems, including technologies for hypersonic aircraft, missiles, and space access vehicles. ATTP leads the Center in developing technology for aerospace transportation vehicle concepts utilizing rocket and air breathing propulsion. ATTP also provides program evaluations and independent assessments for NASA and Department of Defense and conducts ground/flight research programs, such as the Hyper-X I and Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) programs. The overall program includes both analytical and experimental research and technology development.
To maintain U.S. leadership in aeronautics, the High-Speed Research (HSR) Program Office develops technology that is environmentally compatible and economically viable for a high-speed civil transport aircraft. The HSR Program Office coordinates NASA's on-going relationship with airframe and propulsion industry partners, including Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, Pratt & Whitney, and General Electric.
The Airframe Systems Program Office leads NASA's Research and Technology Base Program for aerospace vehicle airframe systems. The office advocates, plans, develops, and coordinates innovative, high-payoff aeronautics technology programs. The programs are planned and implemented in cooperation with industry, universities, government agencies, and other NASA Centers. Technologies developed within the Airframe Systems Program promote economic growth and enhance U.S. competitiveness through safe, superior and environmentally compatible civil and military aircraft. Mission and vehicle concept studies are conducted to help determine the benefits of new research and to explore advanced vehicle concepts.
To help meet national needs in space, the Space and Atmospheric Sciences Program Group (SASPG) plans and directs broad research, technology and science programs. The SASPG members lead Center activities in advanced aerospace transportation systems, advanced spacecraft, remote sensing applications and spaceflight projects. Additionally, Langley has the agency-designated mission for atmospheric science and conducts an aggressive program focused on global change.
The Research and Technology Group (RTG) conducts the Center's basic and applied research and technology development in a broad range of aeronautical and selected space disciplines. The scientists, engineers, technicians and support personnel use wind tunnels, research aircraft, state-of-the-art computers and advanced laboratories to study subsonic to hypersonic flight, flight dynamics and controls, advanced materials and more efficient structures for aircraft and space vehicles.
To maintain and improve on nearly 80 years of technology transfer to industry, the Technology Applications Group (TAG) identifies Center-developed technologies with high commercial potential. TAG employees promote the expedient transfer of these technologies to the commercial sector, especially the nonaerospace community.
To ensure successful accomplishments of the Center's scientific and technical missions, the Internal Operations Group (IOG) provides critical business and institutional support and services. The IOG employees ensure facility, engineering, administrative and operational support to the Center's aeronautics and space research programs and projects; operate the Center's central computer complex and simulation facilities; and oversee flight operations.
The Office of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) oversees the centralized planning and analysis of all Center resources and financial management activities. The office is the principal fiscal advisor to the Center Director and ensures uniform Center decisions in the financial and resource areas.
National Transonic Facility
Transonic Dynamics Tunnel
14- x 22-Foot Tunnel
16-Foot Transonic Tunnel
20-Foot Vertical Spin Tunnel
Unitary Wind Tunnel (Two Test Sections)
8-Foot High Temperature Tunnel
Low Turbulence Pressure Tunnel
22-Inch Mach 20 Helium Tunnel
31-Inch Mach 10 Tunnel
20-Inch Mach 6 CF4 Tunnel
20-Inch Mach 6 Tunnel
20-Inch Supersonic Wind Tunnel
18-Inch Mach 8 Quiet Tunnel
Basic Aerodynamics Research Tunnel
1/3 Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel
Supersonic Low-Disturbance Tunnel
15-Inch Mach 6 High Temperature Tunnel
Arc-Heated Scramjet Test Facility
Combustion-Heated Scramjet Test Facility
Structures and Materials Laboratory
Aircraft Landing Dynamics Facility
Structural Dynamics Laboratory DTRL
High Temperature Materials Laboratory
Impact Dynamics Research Facility
Nondestructive Evaluation Techniques Laboratory
Thermal Structures Laboratory
Composite Materials Laboratory
Materials Research Laboratory
High Intensity Noise Research Facility
Acoustics Research Laboratory
COLTS
General Rotor Aeroelasticity Laboratory
Note: Langley's wind tunnels cover the entire speed range from 0 mph to nearly Mach 25, or approximately 17,500 mph. Some of these tunnels and other facilities are unique to the Nation, such as the National Transonic Facility, the Transonic Dynamics Tunnel, the 20-Foot Vertical Spin Tunnel, Aircraft Landing Dynamics Facility, Impact Dynamics Research Facility, Supersonic Low Disturbance Pilot Tunnel, and Low Turbulence Pressure Tunnel.
Flight Electronics Laboratory
Electromagnetics Research Facility
Information Systems Research Facility (AIRLAB)
Advanced Civil Transport Simulator (ACTS)
Differential Maneuvering Simulator (DMS)
General Purpose Fighter Simulator (GPFS)
Transport Systems Research Vehicle (TSRV)
Visual Motion Simulator, 6 degrees of freedom
Advanced Real-Time Simulation System
CONVEX Supercomputer hosts
High-Speed (50 Mb) Fiber Optic Data Network
Cockpit Graphics Generators
Calligraphic/Raster Terabit Eagle 1000 computers
Onyx/Reality Engine 2 Graphics Supercomputers
Target Image Generators (DMS and GPFS)
Silicon Graphics
Laser Target Generators
Visual Scene Image Generators
Evans & Sutherlands CT-6 computer
ESIG 3000 AT - Advanced Computer-Generated Image (ACGI) System
2 CONVEX 210
1 Cray 2S/4128
1 Cray Y-MP/8256
NASA 557, Boeing 757
NASA 515, Boeing 737
NASA 524, OV-10A
NASA 511, T-38
NASA 529, BE-200 Super King Air
NASA 509, T-34C
NASA 535, UH-1H