"When you think about putting a man up there, 
that’s a different thing. That’s a lot more exciting. 
There are a lot of things you can do 
with men up in orbit." Gilruth, NASA Interview 1986

Just before Gilruth received his graduate degree, he was offered a job as a junior engineer at NACA, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the predecessor of NASA. The Gilruths moved to Hampton, Virginia. This is were they would design and build their first boat, and later design their home and await the birth of their daughter, Barbara. Two constants remained in his life from his earliest years, his love of flight and his deep affection for sailing.

Gilruth soon made his mark at NACA. During his first year, he wrote a report titled "Requirements for Satisfactory Flying Qualities of Airplanes." This report helped to make Gilruth’s reputation and he became the flying quality expert at Langley. In 1945 he was placed in charge of developing a guided missile research station. Gilruth’s organization became known as PARD, Pilotless Aircraft Research Division.

Promoted to assistant director of Langley in 1952, he became troubled by the advent of the Atomic Age of warfare and turned his focus in a new direction. "When you think about putting a man up there, that’s a different thing. That’s a lot more exciting. There are a lot of things you can do with men up in orbit." Gilruth, NASA Interview 1986