Smithsonian Institution
National Air and Space Museum: Wright Brothers: Invention of the Aerial Age
Biographical details about the Ohio-born Wright brothers, who ushered in the aerial age with their invention of the first powered airplane.
Smithsonian Institution
National Air and Space Museum: America by Air: Early Commercial Aviation
Commercial airlines took flight soon after the Wright brothers' famous first flights. Read about how the U.S. government encouraged the development of air travel.
Smithsonian Institution
National Air and Space Museum: America by Air:the Jet Age, 1958 Today
Learn about the changes that have occurred in commercial jet travel since 1958, when jet passenger service began in the United States.
NASA
Nasa: Scott Carpenter the Flight of Aurora 7
This site from NASA provides a detailed description of the flight of Aurora 7 the second manned orbital flight of a Mercury spacecraft.
Smithsonian Institution
National Air and Space Museum: Pioneers of Flight: Civilian Aviation
Even after Lindbergh's famous solo flight, he continued to explore flight and its possibilities. Look inside the Sirius cockpit and then pack up yourself to fly around the world. One problem, however, you only can take on a limited...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Third From the Sun
This site offers a short history of the evolution of the space program and man's quest for more revealing and detailed pictures of the earth.
NASA
Nasa: Buildup for the Space Offensive
This site from NASA provides a detailed description of the events immediately preceding the first American in orbit mission of the Mercury spacecraft Friendship 7.
Smithsonian Institution
National Air and Space Museum: Pioneers of Flight: Amelia Earhart
Illustrated essay on the pioneering step taken by Amelia Earhart when she became, in 1932, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
NASA
Nasa: Shepard's Ride
This site from NASA provides a detailed description of the flight of the first American to travel into space aboard the Freedom 7 Mercury spacecraft in 1961.
NASA
Kennedy Space Center: The Flights: Skylab
Here you can find information about each of the four Skylab missions from 1973-74.
NASA
Nasa: An American in Orbit
This site from NASA provides a detailed description of the first manned American orbital flight of a Mercury spacecraft.
Other
John Glenn: Astronaut/senator
A concise biography which describes the highlights of the life of John Glenn. Two photos are included in this site.
NASA
Nasa: "The Slayton Case"
This site from NASA provides a description of the circumstances and events surrounding his grounding from space flight during the Mercury and Gemini Programs.
NASA
Nasa: John Glenn the Hero
This site from NASA provides a detailed description of events following the successful 3 Earth orbit mission of the Friendship 7 Mercury spacecraft.
NASA
Nasa: Briefing the Briefers
This site from NASA provides detailed information about the successful flight of the Mercury 3, Freedom 7 spacecraft.
NASA
Nasa: Liberty Bell Tolls
This site from NASA provides a detailed description of the second flight of a Mercury spacecraft and the second American to travel in space.
NASA
Nasa: Second Suborbital Trial
This site from NASA provides details of the preparation for the second flight of a Mercury spacecraft, Liberty Bell 7.