Space History Photo: Lawrence Clousing with a Lockheed P-80

space history, moffett field, lockheed p=80
A pilot prepares to test a Lockheed P-80 aircraft. (Image credit: NACA)

In this historical photo from the U.S. space agency, test pilot Lawrence A. Clousing climbs into his Lockheed P-80 aircraft on Jan. 1, 1948, for a test flight at the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, Moffett Field, California.

The National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA) was a precursor to NASA. NACA was created by Congress in 1915.

Each weekday, SPACE.com looks back at the history of spaceflight through photos (archive).

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