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Sally Ride Science is focused on supporting and sustaining students' natural interests in science and technology. Our publications and out-of-school programs bring science to life and show kids that science is creative, collaborative, fascinating and fun.

"Today In Aviation History - December 31 - In 1908… Wilbur Wright at Auvours, France, makes the first flight over 2 hours. He flies for 2 hours and 20 minutes, covers 77 miles, and wins the Michelin Cup for 1908. In 1951… This year, for the first time, air passenger miles flown (10.6 million) have exceeded passenger miles traveled in Pullman cars on the railroad (10.2 million). In 1958… This year, for the first time, more passengers (1.2 million) have crossed the North Atlantic by air than by sea."

"Today In Aviation History - January 1 - In 1914… The U.S. Weather Bureau begins daily publication of a weather map of the Northern Hemisphere designed specifically as an aid to aviation. In 1914… The world's first scheduled airplane passenger service operated by an airline company - the Airboat Line - begins at 10:00 A.M. when Anthony Janus flies his first passenger from St. Petersburg to Tampa, Florida. The fare for 22-mile over-water flight was $5 with a surcharge if the passenger weighs more than 200 lbs."

"10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Technology - easy and (mostly) free. Altogether, they should take about two hours; one involves calling your cable or phone company, so that figure is elastic. If you do them, those two hours will pay off handsomely in both increased free time and diminished anxiety and frustration.

Each week, we go through dozens (and sometimes hundreds) of reader-submitted photos and pick the very best to share with you on Thursday mornings.

December 30 - In 1905… The Wright brothers sign a contract for one million francs with Frenchman Arnold Fordyce for the sale of a powered flying machine capable of flying a nonstop distance of 31 mi. When contingent of French government officials come to Dayton in April 1906 to change the agreement by seeking exclusivity for one year, the idea is dropped; for their trouble, the Wrights received 25,000 francs (then about US $5,000), the first money they earn from flying.

[pdf - this story on page 8] What an adventure, flying around the world in 8½ days in a 200 hp Mooney, a small single engine airplane! Well, that's what two of our own Ninety-Nines, CarolAnn Garratt of Florida and Carol M. Foy of Texas, did in December 2008. They were making a Dash for a Cure for ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease. They called themselves the Dash Team.

"Pam Melroy, Pilot, 100th Shuttle Flight - STS-92 - Approximately twenty percent of the United States astronauts are women. In the history of the program only three women have been designated as pilot astronauts. On October 11, 2000 Lt. Col. Pamela Ann Melroy USAF, after a two-year delay, became the third woman to make her "rookie" flight into space as pilot on the orbiter Discovery.

"Shuttle flight STS-98 - Marsha Ivins' fifth trip into space - Shuttle flight STS-98 rose from the Kennedy Space Center into space on February 7, 2001 at 6:13:02 PM in one of the most spectacular launches ever. A crew of five was on board the orbiter Atlantis including Marsha Ivins. She was the most experienced astronaut on this flight, her fifth trip into space. The main objective of this mission was to attach the U.S. research module, Destiny, to the International Space Station (ISS).

Story of a remarkable young women who learned to fly [close black window by clicking on x in top right of black box overlaying the article]

Susan Helms was a crewmember on Discovery launched on March 8, 2001 from the Kennedy Space Center. She was headed for Space Station Alpha for what was to become a five-and-a-half month stay. Susan accomplished another "first" in women's aerospace history as the first woman who was a long- term inhabitant on the International Space Station.

People always dream of flying like Superman. Yves Rossy comes pretty close. He straps a small pair of wings to his back. And on those wings are four jet engines. This crazy setup actually works really well. Here you can see him fly in formation with a team of wing walkers. It lasts an exhilarating three minutes.

Aerospace Lesson Plans - activities for all grade levels that focus on aeronautics and aircraft. They can be used as stand alone lessons or as part of a unit. The three mini-units: General Aviation Aircraft, Commercial Aircraft, and Research Aircraft provide students with a variety of activities that span across the curriculum.

study aerodynamics at your own pace and to your own level of interest. Some of the topics included are: Newton's basic equations of motion; the motion of a free falling object, that neglects the effects of aerodynamics; the terminal velocity of a falling object subject to both weight and air resistance; the three forces (lift, drag, and weight) that act on a glider; and finally, the four forces that act on a powered airplane.

Paperplane Flying Circus Grade Level: 4 - 6 Objective: To investigate the streamlined shape of aircraft.

Almost everyone has folded a paper plane. They're fun and easy. The designs are endless--from war planes to sleek gliders to stunt planes. Here's one paper airplane design. Try it out, and then experiment on your own.

Aviation and Aerospace Related Sites

Today In Aviation History - December 29 In 1921… Edward Stinson and Lloyd Bertaud set a world endurance record of 26 hours, 18 minutes and 35 seconds flying a BMW-engined Junkers-Larsen over Roosevelt Field. In 1939… First flight of the Consolidated B-24"

Aviation: Wright Brothers - These sites are about the Wright Brothers and their early airplanes. Includes biographies on Wilbur and Orville that tell about their family and careers. Discover what inspired them to build planes. Contains historical photographs, movies, diaries, interviews, and simulations."