|
A prominent aeronautical engineer in the early years of the American space program.
After graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Abbott joined
the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory in 1929. The
author of many technical reports on aerodynamics, he was instrumental in setting
up programs in high-speed research, and by 1945 had risen to be assistant chief
of research at Langley. Transferring to NACA (National
Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) headquarters in 1948 as assistant director
of aerodynamics research, he was promoted to director of advanced research programs
at NASA in 1959 and to director of advanced research
and technology in 1961. In this last capacity Abbott supervised the X-15,
supersonic transport, nuclear rocket, and advanced reentry programs. He retired
in 1962.
|