Photos: The Incredible Life and Times of Amelia Earhart

Joy

Amelia Earhart laughs with joy during a trip to Northolt in a Moth plane on June 24, 1928.

(Image credit: Davis/Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty)

Earhart laughs with joy during a trip to Northolt in a Moth plane on June 24, 1928.

Family portrait

Amelia Earhart in Culmore near Derry city, with the Gallagher family in whose field she landed after becoming the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.

(Image credit: Topical Press Agency/Getty)

Amelia Earhart in Culmore near Derry city, with the Gallagher family in whose field she landed after becoming the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.

Addressing the crowd

Amelia Earhart addresses journalists during lunch at the Criterion in London.

(Image credit: J. Gaiger/Topical Press Agency/Getty)

Earhart addresses journalists during lunch at the Criterion in London.

Ocean flight

Amelia Earhart is pictured in the Solent at Southampton after completing an ocean flight from Newfoundland in her seaplane, "The Friendship."

(Image credit: Davis/Topical Press Agency/Getty)

Earhart is pictured in the Solent at Southampton after completing an ocean flight from Newfoundland in her seaplane, "The Friendship."

Across the Atlantic

American pilot Amelia Earhart after her solo Atlantic flight from the U.S. to Londonderry, arriving at Hanworth Aerodrome in England on May 22, 1932.

(Image credit: Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty)

Earhart arrives at Hanworth Aerodrome in England on May 22, 1932, after her solo Atlantic flight from the U.S. to Londonderry.

Visiting the ambassador

Amelia Earhart outside the American ambassador's house. In 1932. she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in the record time of 13 hours 30 minutes.

(Image credit: Sasha/Getty)

Earhart outside the American ambassador's house. In 1932. she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in the record time of 13 hours 30 minutes.

Crawl space

Amelia Earhart checking equipment on her airplane, circa 1937.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Amelia Earhart checking equipment on her airplane, circa 1937.

Taking flight

Amelia Earhart in a Department of Commerce airplane in 1936.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Earhart in a Department of Commerce airplane in 1936.

A legend

A portrait of Amelia Earhart, circa 1935.

(Image credit: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty)

A portrait of Amelia Earhart, circa 1935.

In mourning

Mourners lay a wreath on the Cenotaph to honor pilot Amelia Earhart.

(Image credit: Walter Bellamy/London Express/Getty)

Mourners lay a wreath on the Cenotaph to honor pilot Amelia Earhart.

Denise Chow
Live Science Contributor

Denise Chow was the assistant managing editor at Live Science before moving to NBC News as a science reporter, where she focuses on general science and climate change. Before joining the Live Science team in 2013, she spent two years as a staff writer for Space.com, writing about rocket launches and covering NASA's final three space shuttle missions. A Canadian transplant, Denise has a bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto, and a master's degree in journalism from New York University.