Space History Photo: Skyrocket In Flight With F-86 Chase Plane

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space history, NACA, swept wing airfoils
The Skyrocket and F-86 Chase plane are two early examples of swept wing airfoils. (Image credit: NACA.)

In this historic photo from the U.S. space agency, this mid-1950s photograph shows the Douglas D-558-2 and the North American F-86 Sabre chase aircraft in flight. Both aircraft display early examples of swept wing airfoils.

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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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the U.S. government agency in charge of the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Founded in 1958, NASA is a civilian space agency aimed at exploring the universe with space telescopes,  satellites, robotic spacecraft, astronauts and more. The space agency has 10 major centers based across the U.S. and launches robotic and crewed missions from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral Florida. It's astronaut corps is based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. To follow NASA's latest mission, follow the space agency on Twitter or any other social channel, of visit: nasa.gov.