Technological Advancements and Challenges at Langley

The transcript discusses the technological advancements in aviation post-WWII, highlighting the transition from propeller to jet engines and the introduction of electronic calculators at Langley. It covers the rise of IBM computers and their impact on research, the integration and training efforts led by Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson's journey to becoming an engineer amidst segregation. The challenges of race relations at Langley and the broader context of the Cold War and space race are also explored.

What technological advancement replaced propellers in aircraft after WWII?

• Steam engines

• Jet engines

• Electric engines

• Nuclear engines

What was a significant step in Langley's technological progress in 1977?

• First space mission

• First jet engine

• First electronic calculator

• First supersonic flight

What was a major challenge of early electronic calculators?

• High cost

• Limited speed

• Paper punch tapes

• Complex programming

What was the purpose of the IBM computers introduced at Langley in the 1950s?

• Space exploration

• Nuclear testing

• Weather forecasting

• Hypersonic flight research

What did the evolution of scientific progress at Langley lead to?

• Obsolescence of propeller research

• Closure of Langley

• More human computers

• Increased funding

What was Dorothy Vaughan's strategy to ensure job security?

• Learning computer programming

• Switching careers

• Moving to another lab

• Retiring early

What was a major topic of debate in the US during the Cold War?

• Economic policies

• School segregation

• Space exploration

• Nuclear disarmament

What barrier did Mary Jackson face in her engineering journey?

• Lack of funding

• Racial segregation in schools

• No mentors

• Language barrier

What was a common challenge for African American employees at Langley?

• Lack of skills

• Racial tensions

• Poor working conditions

• Low pay

What was a central question during the Cold War space race?

• Who would develop the fastest aircraft?

• Who would have the largest military?

• Who would reach outer space first?

• Who would build the first space station?