Langley Research Center (LaRC) Oldest of NASA 's field centers, LaRC is located in Hampton, Virginia and directly borders Poquoson, Virginia . LaRC focuses primarily on aeronautical research, though the Lunar Lander was flight-tested at this facility and a number of high profile space missions are planned and designed on site. Established in 1917 by the National Advisory Committee For Aeronautics , the Center currently devotes two-thirds of its programs to Aeronautics , and the rest to Space . LaRC researchers use more than 40 Wind Tunnel s to study improved Aircraft and Spacecraft safety, performance, and efficiency. Between 1958, when NASA started Project Mercury and 1963, LaRC served as the main office of the Man-In-Space program, with the office being transferred to the Manned Spacecraft Center (now the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center ) in Houston in 1962 - 63 .
