How a small agency with no paid staff became the foundation of modern aviation

Space · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: This video marks the centennial of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the precursor to NASA. It explores how a modest organization evolved into a powerhouse of aeronautical innovation, eventually providing the expertise and infrastructure that propelled humanity into the space age.

Founded on March 3, 1915, the NACA began with no paid staff and a limited budget, yet it became essential for establishing American leadership in aeronautics. Its early work yielded critical breakthroughs still fundamental to flight today, including engine cowlings, retractable landing gear, and the development of jet engine compressors and turbines.

As the national focus shifted toward space in the 1950s, the NACA underwent a major transition. On October 1, 1958, its 7,500 employees and $300 million in facilities were absorbed into the newly formed NASA. The agency's legacy persisted through its personnel, who became leaders at NASA research centers, with one former NACA employee famously becoming the first human to walk on the moon.

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