In 1887, he became secretary of the Smithsonian, where he founded the Astrophysical Observatory, but his interest later turned to aerodynamics.
In 1881, this man led an expedition to Mount Whitney to examine the absorbing effects of the Earth's atmosphere on the Sun's radiation; a year earlier, he invented the bolometer in order to measure radiation from stars. In 1887, he became secretary of the Smithsonian, where he founded the Astrophysical Observatory, but his interest later turned to aerodynamics. In 1896, he tested the first successful pilotless aeroplane, which was launched by catapult, and flew over the Potomac River for a distance of 4,200 feet. FTP, identify this scientist whose groundbreaking flight experiments paved the way for the Wright brothers.
In 1881, this man led an expedition to Mount Whitney to examine the absorbing effects of the Earth's atmosphere on the Sun's radiation; a year earlier, he invented the bolometer in order to measure radiation from stars.
Samuel Pierpont Langley