The Library of Congress has opened its vast resources and created an exhibition commemorating the centennial of flight. The library uses "some of its rarest and most significant materials," to present this aviation history exhibit. Be...

On the morning of September 11, 2001, the deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history took place when four commercial airliners were hijacked by members of the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda. The fourth hijacked plane, United Airlines...

From hot-air balloons floating over Paris to a dirigible crashing over New Jersey, here are some of the biggest moments of aviation history. Below is a timeline of humans' obsession with flight, from da Vinci to drones. Fasten your...

Minutes after its take off from New York's Kennedy International Airport, a Boeing 747 headed for Paris exploded midair over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Long Island on July 17, 1996, leaving all 230 people aboard dead. The...

Find information on the many women who became well known for their part in aviation history. Click on one of the drop down menus on the left to find a name, then click on the name to see a short description of the woman and her...

A look at what the Wright Brothers accomplished. Includes information on the scientific experiments that they conducted, and the 1903 flyer they built to protect themselves from injury as they both learned how to fly.

This learning tool from NASA provides educational tools related to precipitation. The water cycle is featured on this portion of the site.

Over 49,000 digitized primary documents having to do with the Wright brothers and their work with flight. A timeline of the brothers' work, a family tree, and other special presentations are offered.

A resource reviewing the phone call from Todd Beamer to GTE on the morning of September 11, 2001.

'Bear' Bryant, who became a legend at Alabama, and future Pro Football Hall of Famers were among the all-star collection of talent. With football fields viewed as proving grounds, the military fielded teams that competed against top...

Did you know that the hot-air balloon is the oldest form of successful human flight? Briefly described is the history and construction of hot-air balloons. Follow the link to "images of hot-air balloons and balloon racing" to view...

A site that tells the story of the Underground Railroad in Maryland. Includes interactive maps.

In the following lesson students are asked to devise a plan to measure the distance of a balloon's flight, predict the direction a balloon will travel as it deflates, learn about Newton's Laws of Motion, experience Newton's Third Law,...

A competition for students in Grades 5 and up, in which they design an experiment that would fly in space under conditions of microgravity. Winners in local competitions are chosen to submit their designs for inclusion in a...

This profile of the American pilot Francis Gary Powers discusses the mission of the U-2 reconnaissance flights during the Cold War as well as the international incident surrounding the shooting down of his U-2 over the Soviet Union.

This video segment adapted from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center details some of El Nino's far-reaching effects on both marine life and humans. [2:44]

This video segment adapted from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center explains how and where hurricanes develop. Learn how El Nino events alter the course of atmospheric circulation. Includes background reading material and discussion...

This site has a comprehensive overview of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S., including information on Osama bin Laden's background, the formation of Al Qaeda, the attacks themselves, the US response, civil liberties and national...

An introduction to the Sun including its size and distance from the Earth, sunspots, flares and coronal mass ejections.

Part of an extensive website from the Council on Foreign Relations devoted to understanding all aspects of terrorism and its implications for the United States, this section focuses on the economic impact of the September 11, 2001...

The astronaut crew had to troubleshoot a series of problems throughout the historic 1969 flight. This historic exchange on July 20, 1969 marked the end of a perilous journey to the lunar surface, but a multitude of threats still faced...

A summary of the mission in which John Glenn returned to space 36 years after his 3-orbit Mercury program mission in 1962. A description of the mission is provided. Information on the other six members of the crew is included.

Read (or listen to) the illustrated story of Robin, who goes to work with her mother who works at a rotorcraft research center. Includes many interactive supplemental activities.

This NASA site offers a good description of the ongoing space race during the Kennedy administration, discussing the "nip and tuck" of the Soviet-U.S. race. Also includes a description of Kennedy's new special assistant for science and...