Three Daily Press reporters are taking on the 100-year history of NASA Langley and the book they wrote about it in a panel discussion Monday.

Tamara Dietrich, Mark St. John Erickson and Mike Holtzclaw, who collaborated on "The Unknown and Impossible: How a Research Facility in Virginia Mastered the Air and Conquered Space," will participate in a panel discussion about the book at the Hampton History Museum at 7 p.m. Monday.

The book, released in July, chronicles the centennial at NASA Langley in Hampton, where some of the most prominent astronauts, including John Glenn, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, trained for their missions. At Langley, engineers and astronauts played roles in designing the space shuttle and developing the Viking program, which took photos of Mars in the 1970s.

The lab broke ground in July 1917.

"This was the cutting edge of aviation, right here in Hampton," Holtzclaw said. "Anybody who was in aviation and wanted to know what is the latest or if they wanted to test their design at the place to test it, they came here."

The book took at least six months to write, Holtzclaw said. Monday night, books will be on sale for $15.99, and the writers will be signing copies of the book.

Museum members get a 10 percent discount on the book.

Hopefully, the event will inspire people to learn more, said Seamus McGrann, promotions director for the museum.

"It's just another way to showcase the city's past, and for a city that is so integral to the story of America itself, it's just a wonderful way to bring history to people," he said.

A newly minted rule is still in place, Holtzclaw said: "If your footprints are on the lunar surface, you get a free copy."

Mishkin can be reached by phone at 757-641-6669.

What: Panel discussion and book signing of "The Unknown and Impossible."

Where: 120 Old Hampton Lane in Downtown Hampton. Free parking is in the garage across the street.

When: 7-8 p.m. Monday.

Cost: Free.

Buy the book

"The Unknown and Impossible" is available online at BarnesandNoble.com, Amazon.com and dailypress.com/langley. Copies also are available in the Daily Press lobby at 703 Mariners Row in Newport News.

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Hampton History Museum to host Daily Press panel on book about NASA Langley's 100-year history - Daily Press