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Taking Measure Blog Posts

Aerospace

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Jimmy Doolittle in an airplane cockpit

How NIST Helped Hero Pilot Jimmy Doolittle Fly

August 10, 2020
Laura Ost
As portrayed by movie star Spencer Tracy in Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, pilot James (Jimmy) Doolittle led the 1942 air raid on Japan that lifted American spirits in early World War II, winning fame and the Medal of Honor. He eventually became a four-star general. Long before Doolittle became a legend
Pigeon bomb pilot

The Saga of the Bird-Brained Bombers

August 29, 2017
Keith Martin
During World War II, NIST was among those working intensely to develop guided weapons to help the Allies win the war. But before the advent of satellites and GPS, laser targeting or even radar, how would one guide a bomb? Why, trained pigeons, of course. ‘Stupid’ bomb Air bombs of that era were
Photo of U.S. kilogram masses

7 Ways Measurements Help You Get Around

May 19, 2017
Fran Webber
With International Firefighters’ Day behind us and World Turtle Day looming, you might not think you’ve got time for another international day in May. But don’t skip World Metrology Day, which is observed on May 20 every year—the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of the Meter in 1875. Because