Two NASA Dryden F/A-18's land on the Edwards Air Force Base runway after completion of an Autonomous Formation Flight (AFF) mission.

51I-S-225 (3 September 1985) --- The Space Shuttle Discovery lands on September 3, 1985 on Runway 23, Edwards Air Force Base, CA, to successfully complete the 51-I mission.

51I-S-240 (3 Sept. 1985) --- Servicing of the space shuttle Discovery after its landing at Edwards Air Force Base ending the STS-51I mission. Photo credit: NASA

Space shuttle Endeavour and its host NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft make a final flight over Edwards Air Force Base on Sept. 21, 2012. NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, is visible on the upper right of the frame.

An elementary student enrolled in the U.S. Department of Defense Starbase program at Edwards Air Force Base flew the X-57 Maxwell inside NASA’s Armstrong  Flight Research Center’s simulator lab on Sept. 16th 2019.

Space shuttle Endeavour and its host NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft land at Edwards Air Force Base in California. It completed its third leg of a four-segment final ferry flight from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to Los Angeles International Airport on Sept. 20, 2012. The landing was preceded by NASA’s Armstrong (then Dryden) Flight Research Center pilot Bill Brockett’s low-level flyby of the center and the Edwards flight line.

STS098-S-015 (20 Feb. 2001) --- The main landing gear on the space shuttle Atlantis touches down to mark mission completion at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert of California.Onboard were astronauts Kenneth Cockrell, Mark Polansky, Robert Curbeam, Thomas Jones and Marsha Ivins. Atlantis touched down on Edward?s concrete runway at 2:33 p.m. (CST), Feb. 20, for a mission elapsed time of 12 days, 21 hours and 20 minutes. Photo credit: NASA

STS098-S-016 (20 Feb. 2001) --- The main landing gear on the space shuttle Atlantis touches down to mark mission completion at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert of California.Onboard were astronauts Kenneth Cockrell, Mark Polansky, Robert Curbeam, Thomas Jones and Marsha Ivins. Atlantis touched down on Edward?s concrete runway at 2:33 p.m. (CST), Feb. 20, for a mission elapsed time of 12 days, 21 hours and 20 minutes. Photo credit: NASA

STS098-S-017 (20 Feb. 2001) --- A drag chute slows down the space shuttle Atlantis following its touchdown to mark mission completion at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert of California. Onboard were astronauts Kenneth Cockrell, Mark Polansky, Robert Curbeam, Thomas Jones and Marsha Ivins. Atlantis touched down on Edward?s concrete runway at 2:33 p.m. (CST), Feb. 20, for a mission elapsed time of 12 days, 21 hours and 20 minutes. Photo credit: NASA

STS117-S-053 (22 June 2007) --- Accompanied by a convoy of recovery vehicles, the Space Shuttle Atlantis is towed up the taxiway at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center following a successful landing at 12:49 p.m. (PDT) on June 22, 2007 at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

51G-S-225 (24 June 1985) --- Discovery, with its seven-member 51-G crew aboard, touches down on a dry lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Landing was noted at 6:11:53 a.m. (PDT), June 24, 1985.

STS-26 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, with nose landing gear (NLG) and main landing gear (MLG) deployed glides above dry lakebed runway 17 at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB), California. This profile view shows OV-103's port side just before MLG touchdown.

51G-S-224 (24 June 1985) --- Discovery, with its seven-member 51-G crew aboard, touches down on a dry lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Landing was noted at 6:11:53 a.m. (PDT), June 24, 1985.

51F-S-160 (6 Aug 1985) --- The Space Shuttle Challenger is moments away from touchdown on the dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base in California in this ground-level view. The early afternoon landing brought to a successful close eight days in space for seven crewmembers and a battery of scientific experiments aboard.

STS114-S-049 (9 August 2005) --- The sun rises on the Space Shuttle Discovery as it rests on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California, after a safe landing at 5:11 a.m. (PDT) on August 9, 2005. The landing concludes a historic 14-day, Return to Flight mission to the International Space Station.

61C-S-050 (18 Jan 1986) --- This NASA photo records the night landing of space shuttle Columbia at Edwards Air Force Base and end of the STS 61-C mission. View is of the shuttle's main landing gear touching down, with streams of light trailing behind the orbiter. Photo credit: NASA

STS036-S-018 (3 March 1990) --- The Space Shuttle Atlantis touches down at Edwards Air Force Base in California to complete the STS-36 mission. Onboard were Astronauts John O. Creighton, John H. Casper, David C. Hilmers, Richard M. (Mike) Mullane and Pierre J. Thuot.

STS117-S-054 (22 June 2007) --- The Space Shuttle Atlantis is towed from the runway at Edwards Air Force Base to NASA Dryden Flight Research Center's Mate-Demate Device (MDD) for post-flight processing after a successful landing at 12:49 p.m. (PDT) on June 22, 2007.

STS117-S-056 (25 June 2007) --- The space shuttle Atlantis receives postflight servicing in the Mate-Demate Device (MDD) at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center after a successful landing at 12:49 p.m. (PDT) on June 22, 2007 at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Photo credit: NASA

STS117-S-055 (23 June 2007) --- The Space Shuttle Atlantis receives post-flight servicing in the Mate-Demate Device (MDD) at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center after a successful landing at 12:49 p.m. (PDT) on June 22, 2007 at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

STS044-S-140 (1 Dec 1991) --- A wide shot of Atlantis, with a crew of six aboard, as it is about to touch down at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. Main gear touchdown occurred at 2:34:42 p.m. (PST), December 1, 1991.

STS053-S-085 (9 Dec. 1992) --- The drag chute on the space shuttle Discovery is partially deployed during landing on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base. The landing ended an eight-day space mission for the STS-53 crew. Main gear touchdown occurred at 12:43:17 p.m. (PST) on Dec. 9, 1992. Onboard were astronauts David M. Walker, Robert D. Cabana, Guion S. Bluford Jr., James S. Voss and Michael R.U. (Rich) Clifford.

S82-33227 (4 July 1982) --- President and First Lady Reagan share a meeting with Astronauts Thomas K. Mattingly II, right, and Henry W. Hartsfield Jr., after the successful landing of the Space Shuttle Columbia at Edwards Air Force Base today. Besides the Columbia, pictures, the new Space Shuttle Challenger and the Enterprise (vehicle used for test flights in the lower atmosphere in 1977), were also present at Edwards AFB. The latter served as a backdrop for the President?s podium from which he made a brief speech.

JSC2002-E-26015 (19 June 2002) --- The Space Shuttle Endeavour is shown on the big screen in this overall view of the shuttle flight control room (WFCR) in Houston’s Mission Control Center (MCC). The shuttle landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California at 10:58 a.m. (PDT) on June 19, 2002. The landing site was switched to Edwards after three days of wave offs at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, due to unacceptable weather conditions.

STS58-S-126 (1 Nov 1993) --- The Space Shuttle Columbia is about to touch down on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) in California. The landing, which occurred at 7:06 a.m. (PST), November 1, 1993, completed a two week mission in space devoted to medical research. Onboard the spacecraft were astronauts John E. Blaha, Richard A. Searfoss, Rhea Seddon, Shannon W. Lucid, David A. Wolf and William S. McArthur along with payload specialist Martin J. Fettman, DVM.

STS114-S-047 (9 August 2005) --- NASA’s Crew Transport Vehicle (CTV) pulls up to the Space Shuttle Discovery to offload the STS-114 crewmembers after a successful landing at 5:11 a.m. (PDT) on August 9, 2005 at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The landing concludes a historic 14-day, Return to Flight mission to the International Space Station.

STS092-S-020 [EC00-0311-1] (24 October 2000)--- The main landing gear on the Space Shuttle Discovery is just about to touch down to mark mission completion at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert of California. Onboard were astronauts Brian Duffy, Pamela A. Melroy, William S. McArthur, Jr., Leroy Chiao, Michael E. Lopez-Alegria, Peter J.K. (Jeff) Wisoff and Koichi Wakata of Japan's National Space Development Agency (NASDA). Discovery touched down at 2 p.m. (PDT), October 24, and rolled to a stop on Edward's concrete runway at 2:0l, for a mission elapsed time of 12 days, 21 hours and 43 minutes.

STS092-S-022 [EC00-0311-3](24 OCTOBER 2000) --- The drag chute on the Space Shuttle Discovery is deployed as the vehicle rolls toward mission completion at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert of California. Onboard were astronauts Brian Duffy, Pamela A. Melroy, Leroy Chiao, William S. McArthur, Jr., Peter J.K. (Jeff) Wisoff, Michael E. Lopez-Alegria, and Koichi Wakata of Japan's National Space Development Agency (NASDA). Discovery touched down at 2 p.m. (PDT), October 24, and rolled to a stop on Edward's concrete runway at 2:0l, for a mission elapsed time of 12 days, 21 hours and 43 minutes.

STS092-S-021 [EC00-0311-2](24 October 2000 --- The main landing gear on the Space Shuttle Discovery is just about to touch down to mark mission completion at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert of California. Onboard were astronauts Brian Duffy, Pamela A. Melroy, William S. McArthur, Jr., Leroy Chiao, Michael E. Lopez-Alegria, Peter J.K. (Jeff) Wisoff and Koichi Wakata of Japan's National Space Development Agency (NASDA). Discovery touched down at 2 p.m. (PDT), October 24, and rolled to a stop on Edward's concrete runway at 2:0l, for a mission elapsed time of 12 days, 21 hours and 43 minutes.

This photograph depicts the Rocketdyne static firing of the F-1 engine at the towering 76-meter Test Stand 1-C in Area 1-125 of the Edwards Air Force Base in California. The Saturn V S-IC (first) stage utilized five F-1 engines for its thrust. Each engine provided 1,500,000 pounds, for a combined thrust of 7,500,000 pounds with liquid oxygen and kerosene as its propellants.

STS041-S-093 (10 Oct 1990) --- Discovery is only moments away from touchdown at Edwards Air Force Base to end a four-day mission in space for its five-man crew. The vehicle landed at 6:57 a.m. PDT, Oct. 10, 1990. Onboard the spacecraft were Astronauts Richard N. Richards, Robert D. Cabana, William M. Shepherd, Bruce E. Melnick and Thomas D. Akers.

STS100-S-025 (1 May 2001) --- The space shuttle Endeavour is only seconds away from main gear touchdown on a desert runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California to complete the STS-100 mission. Touchdown occurred at 9:11 a.m. (PDT), May 1, 2001. Onboard the shuttle were six NASA astronauts and a cosmonaut representing Rosaviakosmos. Photo credit: NASA

STS037-S-087 (11 April 1991) --- STS-37 crewmembers egress Atlantis via mobile stairway after landing on runway 33 dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base. Leading the crewmembers down the stairway is mission commander Steven R. Nagel. He is followed by pilot Kenneth D. Cameron, Mission Specialists Linda M. Godwin, Jerome Apt and Jerry L. Ross.

STS068-S-060 (11 October 1994) --- With its main landing gear not quite on the runway, the Space Shuttle Endeavour wraps up an eleven-day mission at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Landing occurred at 10:02 a.m. (PDT), October 11, 1994. Onboard were astronauts Michael A. Baker, mission commander; Terrence W. Wilcutt, pilot; Thomas D. Jones, payload commander; and Daniel W. Bursch, Peter J. K. (Jeff) Wisoff and Steven L. Smith, all mission specialists.

JSC2005-E-36604 (21 August 2005) --- The Space Shuttle Discovery, atop a specially modified Boeing 747, was photographed following touch down at NASA Kennedy Space Center’s (KSC) Shuttle Landing Facility on Aug. 21, 2005 after a ferry flight from Edwards Air Force Base in California, where the shuttle landed Aug. 9. The 747, known as the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), brought Discovery home to KSC after completing the historic STS-114 Return to Flight mission.

STS-34 crewmembers, wearing launch and entry suits (LESs), stand in front of Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104, on Runway 23 dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB), California. Left to right are Pilot Michael J. McCulley, Commander Donald E. Williams, Mission Specialist (MS) Ellen S. Baker, MS Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, and MS Shannon W. Lucid. Ground crews service OV-104 in the background.

STS100-S-023 (1 May 2001) --- The space shuttle Endeavour is only seconds away from main gear touchdown on a desert runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California to complete the STS-100 mission. Touchdown occurred at 9:11 a.m. (PDT), May 1, 2001. Onboard the shuttle were six NASA astronauts and a cosmonaut representing Rosaviakosmos. Photo credit: NASA

STS117-S-052 (22 June 2007) --- The STS-117 crew poses in front of the Space Shuttle Atlantis after a successful landing at 12:49 p.m. (PDT) on June 22, 2007 at Edwards Air Force Base in California. From the left are astronauts Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson, both mission specialists; Rick Sturckow, commander; Lee Archambault, pilot; John "Danny" Olivas and Jim Reilly, both mission specialists.

STS036-S-008 (3 March 1990) --- The crewmembers for STS-36 egress the Shuttle Atlantis following touchdown at Edwards Air Force Base in California. NASA officials stand nearby awaiting to greet (from bottom to top of the steps) Astronauts John O. Creighton, John H. Casper, Pierre J. Thuot, David C. Hilmers and Richard M. (Mike) Mullane. At right are Dr. William B. Lenoir (left) acting associate administrator for space flight; and Donald R. Puddy, director of flight crew operations.

STS055-S-089 (6 May 1993) --- The main drag chute on the Space Shuttle Columbia is almost fully deployed in this three-quarter aft view of the vehicle's runway landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Landing occurred at 7:30 a.m. (PDT), May 6, 1993. Onboard the spacecraft were astronauts Steven R. Nagel, Terence T. (Tom) Henricks, Jerry L. Ross, Bernard Harris Jr. and Charles J. Precourt, along with German payload specialists Hans Schlegel and Ulrich Walter.

STS033-S-010 (27 Nov 1989) --- The Space Shuttle Discovery, with a crew of five astronauts aboard, touches down on a runway at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. The landing occurred at 16:31:02 p.m. (PST), Nov. 27, 1989. Onboard Discovery for the DOD-devoted mission were astronauts Frederick D. Gregory, John E. Blaha, Kathryn C. Thornton, F. Story Musgrave and Manley L. Carter.

STS114-S-048 (9 August 2005) --- The sun rises on the Space Shuttle Discovery as it rests on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California, after a safe landing at 5:11 a.m. (PDT) on Aug. 9, 2005. The landing concludes a historic 14-day Return to Flight STS-114 mission to the international space station.

JSC2002-E-26012 (19 June 2002) --- Flight directors John Shannon (left) and Steve Stich are photographed at their consoles in the shuttle flight control room (WFCR) in Houston’s Mission Control Center (MCC). At the time this photo was taken the Space Shuttle Endeavour was about to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California, to mark the end of a successful mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

STS028-S-018 (13 Aug 1989) --- The Space shuttle Columbia is captured on film just prior to main gear touchdown at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California. The landing marked a successful end to a five-day Department of Defense (DOD)-devoted mission. Onboard the spacecraft were astronauts Brewster H. Shaw Jr., Richard N. Richards, David C. Leestma, James C. Adamson and Mark N. Brown.

STS-34 Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104, main landing gear (MLG) touches down on Runway 23 dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB), California. The nose landing gear rides above runway before touchdown as the MLG wheels produce a cloud of dust. OV-104's port side profile is captured as it glides by at a speed of approximately 195 knots (224 miles per hour). The tail section with deployed speedbrake/rudder and space shuttle main engines (SSMEs) are visible.

STS100-S-024 (1 May 2001) --- The main landing gear on the space shuttle Endeavour touches down on a desert runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California to complete the STS-100 mission. Touchdown occurred at 9:11 a.m. (PDT), May 1, 2001. Onboard the shuttle were six NASA astronauts and a cosmonaut representing Rosaviakosmos. Photo credit: NASA

STS030-S-127 (8 May 1989) --- The space shuttle Atlantis, as seen in a low angle view on its glide in from Earth orbit, heads toward a concrete runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Onboard were astronauts David M. Walker, STS-30 commander; Ronald J. Grabe, pilot; and astronauts Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave and Mark C. Lee ? all mission specialists. Photo credit: NASA

STS029-S-064 (18 Mar 1989) --- A rear view photographed from the ground just after Discovery's main landing gear touches down on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in California following a successful five-day mission in Earth orbit. Onboard the spacecraft were Astronauts Michael L. Coats, John E. Blaha, James F. Buchli, Robert C. Springer and James P. Bagian. Wheels came to a stop at 6:36:40 a.m. (PST), March 18, 1989.

STS028-S-013 (13 Aug 1989) --- The Space Shuttle Columbia is captured on film just prior to main gear touchdown at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California. The landing marked a successful end to a five-day DOD-devoted mission. Onboard the spacecraft were Astronauts Brewster H. Shaw Jr., Richard N. Richards, David C. Leestma, James C. Adamson and Mark N. Brown.

STS030-S-126 (8 May 1989) --- The space shuttle Atlantis, as seen in a low angle view on its glide in from Earth orbit, heads toward a concrete runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Onboard were astronauts David M. Walker, STS-30 commander; Ronald J. Grabe, pilot; and astronauts Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave and Mark C. Lee ? all mission specialists. Photo credit: NASA

STS100-S-020 (1 May 2001) --- The drag chute on the space shuttle Endeavour helps to slow the vehicle down as it eases to the completion of the STS-100 mission on a desert runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Touchdown occurred at 9:11 a.m. (PDT), May 1, 2001. Onboard the shuttle were six NASA astronauts and a cosmonaut representing Rosaviakosmos. Photo credit: NASA

STS068-S-059 (11 October 1994) --- With its main landing gear not quite on the runway, the Space Shuttle Endeavour wraps up an eleven-day mission at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Landing occurred at 10:02 a.m. (PDT), October 11, 1994. Onboard were astronauts Michael A. Baker, mission commander; Terrence W. Wilcutt, pilot; Thomas D. Jones, payload commander; and Daniel W. Bursch, Peter J. K. (Jeff) Wisoff and Steven L. Smith, all mission specialists.

STS030-S-124 (8 May 1989) --- Its landing gear fully deployed, Space Shuttle Atlantis is lined up for its approach to Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. Minutes later, at 12:44:33 (PDT), the spacecraft's wheels had come to a complete stop, marking the successful conclusion for the four-day STS-30 mission. Onboard were astronauts David M. Walker, Ronald J. Grabe, Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave and Mark C. Lee.

STS029-S-063 (18 March 1989) --- Discovery's main landing gear touches down on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in California following a successful five-day mission in Earth orbit. Onboard the spacecraft were Astronauts Michael L. Coats, John E. Blaha, James F. Buchli, Robert C. Springer and James P. Bagian. Wheels came to a stop at 6:36:40 a.m. (PST), March 18, 1989.

51F-S-161 (6 Aug 1985) --- The Space Shuttle Challenger, with its seven member crew and battery of scientific experiments aboard, eases its rear landing gear onto the dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Onboard for the eight-day mission were C. Gordon Fullerton, Roy D. Bridges Jr., F. Story Musgrave, Karl J. Henize, Anthony W. England, Loren W. Acton and John-David Bartoe.

S81-30843 (14 April 1981) --- Astronaut John W. Young, STS-1 commander, egresses the space shuttle orbiter Columbia following her successful landing on Rogers dry lake bed on southern California?s Edwards Air Force Base. Approaching the crew member at right is Dr. Craig L. Fischer, head of the medical operations branch at Johnson Space Center. Still inside the spacecraft is Robert L. Crippen, STS-1 pilot. Photo credit: NASA

Frank Batteas is a research test pilot in the Flight Crew Branch of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. He is currently a project pilot for the F/A-18 and C-17 flight research projects. In addition, his flying duties include operation of the DC-8 Flying Laboratory in the Airborne Science program, and piloting the B-52B launch aircraft, the King Air, and the T-34C support aircraft. Batteas has accumulated more than 4,700 hours of military and civilian flight experience in more than 40 different aircraft types. Batteas came to NASA Dryden in April 1998, following a career in the U.S. Air Force. His last assignment was at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, where Lieutenant Colonel Batteas led the B-2 Systems Test and Evaluation efforts for a two-year period. Batteas graduated from Class 88A of the Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base, California, in December 1988. He served more than five years as a test pilot for the Air Force's newest airlifter, the C-17, involved in nearly every phase of testing from flutter and high angle-of-attack tests to airdrop and air refueling envelope expansion. In the process, he achieved several C-17 firsts including the first day and night aerial refuelings, the first flight over the North Pole, and a payload-to-altitude world aviation record. As a KC-135 test pilot, he also was involved in aerial refueling certification tests on a number of other Air Force aircraft. Batteas received his commission as a second lieutenant in the U. S. Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps and served initially as an engineer working on the Peacekeeper and Minuteman missile programs at the Ballistic Missile Office, Norton Air Force Base, Calif. After attending pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, Phoenix, Ariz., he flew operational flights in the KC-135 tanker aircraft and then was assigned to research flying at the 4950th Test Wing, Wright-Patterson. He flew extensively modified C-135

STS111-S-027 (19 June 2002) --- After traveling 5.8 million miles in space during 217 orbits, the Space Shuttle Endeavour is just about to complete NASA's STS-111 mission with a landing on concrete runway 22 at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Three days of unfavorable weather conditions at KSC prompted the decision to land at Edwards, which enjoyed pristine, dry conditions. Main gear touchdown occurred at 10:57:41 a.m. (PDT), nose gear touchdown at 10:57:53 a.m. (PDT) and wheel stop at 10:58:45 a.m. (PDT).

STS111-S-026 (19 June 2002) --- After traveling 5.8 million miles in space during 217 orbits, the Space Shuttle Endeavour is just about to complete NASA's STS-111 mission with a landing on concrete runway 22 at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Three days of unfavorable weather conditions at KSC prompted the decision to land at Edwards, which enjoyed pristine, dry conditions. Main gear touchdown occurred at 10:57:41 a.m. (PDT), nose gear touchdown at 10:57:53 a.m. (PDT) and wheel stop at 10:58:45 a.m. (PDT).

STS114-S-045 (9 August 2005) --- The STS-114 crewmembers gather for a crew photo in front of the Space Shuttle Discovery following landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. From the left are astronauts Stephen K. Robinson, mission specialist; Eileen M. Collins, commander; Andrew S. W. Thomas, Wendy B. Lawrence, Soichi Noguchi representing Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Charles J. Camarda, all mission specialists; and James M. Kelly, pilot. The landing concludes a historic 14-day, Return to Flight mission to the international space station.

S83-39696 (5 Sept 1983) --- The five member astronaut crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger for STS-8 responds to a comment made by President Ronald Reagan during a post flight telephone conversation with the chief executive. The five astronauts earlier today landed the reusable spacecraft at Edwards Air Force Base in California and were flown to JSC via NASA aircraft. Richard H. Truly, center, is crew commander. Pilot for the six day flight was Daniel C. Brandenstein, second left. The mission specialist were Guion S. Bluford, left: Dr. William S. Thornton, second right, and Dale A. Gardner, right. Photo credit: NASA

STS035-S-091 (10 Dec 1990) --- Donald R. Puddy (center), Director of Flight Crew Operations at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), joins the STS-35 crewmembers in a post-landing walk-around inspection of the Columbia at Edwards Air Force Base. Crewmembers pictured are, left to right, Vance D. Brand, John M. (Mike) Lounge, Ronald A. Parise, Guy S. Gardner and Jeffrey A. Hoffman. Obscured or out of frame are Samuel T. Durrance and Robert A. R. Parker. Dr. William B. Lenoir, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Flight, is at far left background.

S83-39693 (5 Sept 1983) --- The five member astronaut crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger for STS-8 responds to a comment made by President Ronald Reagan during a post flight telephone conversation with the chief executive. The five astronauts earlier today landed the reusable spacecraft at Edwards Air Force Base in California and were flown to JSC via NASA aircraft. Richard H. Truly, center, is crew commander. Pilot for the six day flight was Daniel C. Brandenstein, second left. The mission specialist were Guion S. Bluford, left: Dr. William S. Thornton, second right, and Dale A. Gardner, right.

S82-33226 (4 July 1982) --- Inveterate space fan Roy Rogers with astronauts Jerry L. Ross, left, and Guy S. Gardner at Edwards Air Force Base for the landing of the space shuttle Columbia at the conclusion of the STS-4 mission on July 4, 1982. Ross and Gardner piloted chase planes involved in the approach and landing operations for the flight?s conclusion. Also present at the landing was (near far right) former astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot for the historic first moon landing of almost 13 years ago. Photo credit: NASA

STS058-S-128 (1 Nov 1993) --- The nose gear of the Space Shuttle Columbia is about to touch down on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) in California. The landing, which occurred at 7:06 a.m. (PST), November 1, 1993, completed a two week mission in space devoted to medical research. Onboard the spacecraft were astronauts John E. Blaha, Richard A. Searfoss, Rhea Seddon, Shannon W. Lucid, David A. Wolf and William S. McArthur along with payload specialist Martin J. Fettman, DVM.

STS048-S-180 (18 Sept 1991) --- Having just completed a successful six day mission in Earth orbit, the five astronaut crewmembers for NASA's STS-48 spaceflight egress the crew transport vehicle (CTV). Astronaut John O. Creighton shakes hands with astronaut Richard N. Richards, who had earlier flown a NASA aircraft for weather checkout in the landing area. Following the mission commander are astronauts James F. Buchli, Charles D. (Sam) Gemar, Kenneth S. Reightler and Mark N. Brown. Discovery can be seen in the background. The Edwards Air Force Base landing occurred at 12:38:38 a.m. (PDT), September 18, 1991.

STS100-S-022 (1 May 2001) --- Six astronauts and a cosmonaut pose with their "home away from home" after the Shuttle Endeavour touched down on a desert runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California to complete the STS-100 mission. From the left are astronauts John L. Phillips, Umberto Guidoni, Chris A. Hadfield, Jeffrey S. Ashby and Kent V. Rominger, along with cosmonaut Yuri V. Lonchakov and astronaut Scott E. Parazynski. Guidoni is with the European Space Agency (ESA); Hadfield represents the Canadian Space Agency; and Lonchakov is associated with Rosaviakosmos. Touchdown occurred at 9:11 a.m. (PDT), May 1, 2001.

STS042-S-094 (30 Jan 1992) --- Space Shuttle Discovery lands on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California to complete an eight-day mission. Main gear touchdown occurred at 8:07:18 a.m. (PST), Jan. 30, 1992. The crewmembers aboard Discovery for the first International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-1) mission were astronauts Ronald J. Grabe, mission commander; Stephen S. Oswald, pilot; Norman E. Thagard, payload commander; and David C. Hilmers and William F. Readdy, both mission specialists; and payload specialists Roberta L. Bondar of Canada and Ulf Merbold, representing the European Space Agency (ESA).

STS092-S-023 [EC00-0311-4] (24 October 2000)--- The seven astronauts for the STS-92 flight, having just returned from a mission in Earth orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, pose near that vehicle at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert of California. From the left are astronauts Koichi Wakata of Japan's National Space Development Agency (NASDA), Michael E. Lopez-Alegria, Peter J.K. (Jeff) Wisoff, William S. McArthur, Jr., Leroy Chiao, Pamela A. Melroy and Brian Duffy. Discovery touched down at 2 p.m. (PDT), October 24, and rolled to a stop on Edward's concrete runway at 2:0l, for a mission elapsed time of 12 days, 21 hours and 43 minutes.

STS033-S-014 (27 Nov 1989) --- The Space Shuttle Discovery is silhouetted against late afternoon California skies as it approaches the runway for landing at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. A five-member crew aboard was about to complete the DOD-devoted STS-33 mission. The landing occurred at 16:31:02 p.m. (PST), Nov. 27, 1989. Onboard Discovery for the mission were Astronauts Frederick D. Gregory, John E. Blaha, Kathryn C. Thornton, F. Story Musgrave and Manley L. Carter.

STS040-S-174 (14 June 1991) --- The Space Shuttle Columbia is only moments away from touchdown on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The landing completes a successful nine-day Spacelab Life Sciences (SLS-1) mission, the first ever devoted exclusively to life sciences research. Onboard the spacecraft were astronauts Bryan D. O'Connor, Sidney M. Gutierrez, Rhea Seddon, James P. Bagian and Tamara E. Jernigan; and payload specialists F. Drew Gaffney and Millie Hughes-Fulford. Landing occurred at 8:39:11 a.m. (PDT), June 14, 1991.

STS035-49-028 (2-10 Dec. 1990) --- This is one of 25 visuals used by the STS-35 crew at its Dec. 20, 1990 post-flight press conference. Columbia's flight of almost nine days duration (launched Dec. 2 from Kennedy Space Center and landed Dec. 10 at Edwards Air Force Base) carried the Astro-1 payload and was dedicated to astrophysics. The mission involved a seven-man crew. Crewmembers were astronauts Vance D. Brand, Guy S. Gardner, Jeffrey A. Hoffman, Robert A.R. Parker and John M. (Mike) Lounge; and Payload Specialists Samuel T. Durrance and Ronald A. Parise.

S81-30852 (14 April 1981) --- Astronaut Robert L. Crippen, pilot for the STS-1 flight, egresses the NASA space shuttle following touchdown of the Columbia on Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Astronaut John W. Young, crew commander, had earlier exited the craft and can be seen standing at the foot of the steps with George W.S. Abbey, director of flight operations at the Johnson Space Center (JSC). Dr. Craig L. Fischer, chief of the medical operations branch in JSC?s medical sciences division, follows Crippen down the steps. Photo credit: NASA

S81-39511 (14 Nov. 1981) --- The successful STS-2 landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California was cause for celebration in the Johnson Space Center?s Mission Control Center shortly before 3:30 p.m. (CST) on Nov. 14, 1981. JSC Director Christopher C. Kraft Jr. (center), not only applauds but enjoys a traditional ?touchdown? cigar, as well. Eugene F. Kranz (left), deputy director of flight operations at JSC, and Thomas L. Moser of the structures and mechanics division join the celebration. The second flight of the space shuttle Columbia lasted two days, six hours, 13 minutes and a few seconds. Photo credit: NASA

S26-S-032 (29 Sept. 1988) --- The STS-26 launch of space shuttle Discovery begins the first flight to be flown after the Challenger accident. The flight crew included astronauts Rick Hauck, commander; Dick Covey, pilot; and three mission specialists, Dave Hilmers, Mike Lounge, and George (Pinky) Nelson. During the four-day mission, the crew deployed the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-C) and operated eleven mid-deck experiments. Discovery completed 64 orbits of the earth before landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on October 3, 1988. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

STS031-S-130 (29 April 1990) --- The astronauts of STS-31 pose for a quick photo near the Space Shuttle Discovery following a smooth landing on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base to complete a highly successful five-day mission. Pictured, left to right, are Astronauts Steven A. Hawley, Charles F. Bolden Jr., Kathryn D. Sullivan, Loren J. Shriver, and Bruce McCandless II. Theirs was an Earth orbital flight during which the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) was sent toward its 15-year mission.

STS059-S-107 (20 April 1994) --- The main landing gear of the Space Shuttle Endeavour touches down at Edwards Air Force Base to complete the 11-day STS-59/SRL-1 mission. Landing occurred at 9:54 a.m. (PDT), April 20, 1994. Mission duration was 11 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes. Guiding Endeavour to a landing was astronaut Sidney M. Gutierrez, STS-59 commander. His crew was Kevin P. Chilton, Linda M. Godwin, Jerome (Jay) Apt, Michael R. (Rich) Clifford and Thomas D. Jones.

51B-S-071 (6 May 1985) --- The Space Shuttle Challenger lands on Runway 17 at Edwards Air Force Base to complete a week in space for its seven-member crew and a variety of payload. The vehicle stopped at 9:12:05 a.m. (PDT), May 6, 1985. Onboard were astronauts Robert F. Overmyer, Frederick D. Gregory, Don L. Lind, Norman E. Thagard and William E. Thornton of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); and payload specialists Lodewijk van den Berg and Taylor G. Wang.

STS031-S-135 (29 April 1990) --- The Space Shuttle Discovery makes a smooth landing on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base to complete a highly successful five-day mission. It was an Earth orbital flight during which the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) was sent toward its 15-year mission. Landing was completed at 6:51 a.m. (PDT), April 29, 1990. Inside the spacecraft for STS-31 were Astronauts Loren J. Shriver, Charles F. Bolden, Bruce McCandless II, Kathryn D. Sullivan and Steven A. Hawley.

STS068-S-061 (11 October 1994) --- The drag chute system, one of 13 Detailed Test Objectives (DTO) for STS-68, is deployed as the Space Shuttle Endeavour completes an eleven-day mission at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Landing occurred at 10:02 a.m. (PDT), October 11, 1994. Onboard were astronauts Michael A. Baker, mission commander; Terrence W. Wilcutt, pilot; Thomas D. Jones, payload commander; and Daniel W. Bursch, Peter J. K. (Jeff) Wisoff and Steven L. Smith, all mission specialists.

STS117-S-051 (22 June 2007) --- NASA Dryden Flight Research Center director Kevin Petersen greets astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-117 commander, as the crewmembers exit NASA's Crew Transport Vehicle (CTV) after a successful landing at 12:49 p.m. (PDT) on June 22, 2007 at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Following behind Sturckow are astronauts Lee Archambault, pilot; Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson and John "Danny" Olivas, all mission specialists. Not pictured is astronaut Jim Reilly, mission specialist.

S26-S-187 (29 Sept. 1988) --- The STS-26 launch of space shuttle Discovery begins the first flight to be flown after the Challenger accident. The flight crew included astronauts Rick Hauck, commander; Dick Covey, pilot; and three mission specialists, Dave Hilmers, Mike Lounge, and George (Pinky) Nelson. During the four-day mission, the crew deployed the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-C) and operated eleven mid-deck experiments. Discovery completed 64 orbits of the earth before landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on October 3, 1988. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The seventh free flight of an X-38 prototype for an emergency space station crew return vehicle culminated in a graceful glide to landing under the world's largest parafoil. The mission began when the X-38 was released from NASA's B-52 mother ship over Edwards Air Force Base, California, where NASA Dryden Flight Research Center is located. The July 10, 2001 flight helped researchers evaluate software and deployment of the X-38's drogue parachute and subsequent parafoil. NASA intends to create a space-worthy Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) to be docked to the International Space Station as a "lifeboat" to enable a full seven-person station crew to evacuate in an emergency.

STS059-S-108 (20 April 1994) --- The main landing gear of the Space Shuttle Endeavour touches down at Edwards Air Force Base to complete the 11-day STS-59/SRL-1 mission. Landing occurred at 9:54 a.m. (PDT), April 20, 1994. Mission duration was 11 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes. Guiding Endeavour to a landing was astronaut Sidney M. Gutierrez, STS-59 commander. His crew was Kevin P. Chilton, Linda M. Godwin, Jerome (Jay) Apt, Michael R. (Rich) Clifford and Thomas D. Jones.

STS-31 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, rolls along concrete runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB), California, after nose landing gear (NLG) and main landing gear (MLG) touchdown. This view looks down OV-103's port side from the space shuttle main engines (SSMEs) to the nose section. The SSMEs are gimbaled to their descent position and the rudder/speedbrake is deployed on the vertical stabilizer. Wheel stop occurred at 6:51 am (Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)). In the distance EAFB facilities are visible.

S81-39508 (14 Nov. 1981) --- The successful STS-2 landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California was cause for celebration in the Johnson Space Center?s Mission Control Center shortly before 3:30 p.m. (CST) on Nov. 14, 1981. JSC Director Christopher C. Kraft Jr. (center), enjoys a traditional ?touchdown? cigar. He is flanked by retiring lead engineer Maxime Faget (left) and Thomas L. Moser of the structures and mechanics division, who join the celebration. The second flight of the space shuttle Columbia lasted two days, six hours, 13 minutes and a few seconds. Photo credit: NASA

STS030-S-128 (8 May 1989) --- Space Shuttle Atlantis? landing gear has just appeared and the spacecraft, with five astronaut crewmembers aboard, heads for a smooth landing on runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. Onboard the spacecraft were astronauts David M. Walker, Ronald J. Grabe, Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave and Mark C. Lee. The crew spend just over four full days in space, having released the Magellan spacecraft toward Venus on the first day.

STS037-S-085 (11 April 1991) --- Following their egress from the Space Shuttle Atlantis at Edwards Air Force Base the STS-37 astronauts survey their "home" for the past six days. Pictured, left to right, are astronauts Jerry L. Ross, Jerome J. Apt, Linda M. Godwin, Kenneth D. Cameron, Daniel C. Brandenstein and Steven R. Nagel, mission commander. Brandenstein, chief of the Astronaut Office at JSC, flew the Shuttle training aircraft and took photographs during Atlantis's landing. Complete wheel stop occurred at 6:56:26 (PDT), April 11, 1991.

STS049-S-325 (16 May 1992) --- The main landing gear of Endeavour is just about to touch down at Edwards Air Force Base to draw to an end NASA's nine-day STS-49 mission. Crewmembers onboard were astronauts Daniel C. Brandenstein, mission commander; Kevin P. Chilton, pilot; and Thomas D. Akers, Richard J. Hieb, Bruce E. Melnick, Kathryn C. Thornton and Pierre J. Thout, all mission specialists. Landing occurred at 1:36:38 p.m. (PDT), May 16, 1992.

STS033-S-017 (27 Nov 1989) --- The Space Shuttle Discovery is approached by safing vehicles and team members following its late-afternoon landing at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. A five member crew aboard had just completed the DOD-devoted STS-33 mission. The landing occurred at 16:31:02 p.m. (PST), Nov. 27, 1989. Onboard Discovery for the mission and still aboard the craft when this photo was made were Astronauts Frederick D. Gregory, John E. Blaha, Kathryn C. Thornton, F. Story Musgrave and Manley L. Carter.

The crew of Space Shuttle mission STS-100 gathered in front of the shuttle Endeavour following landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, 9:11 am, May 1, 2001. From left to right: John L. Phillips, mission specialist (U.S.); Umberto Guidoni, mission specialist (European Space Agency); Chris A. Hadfield, mission specialist (Canadian Space Agency); Jeffrey S. Ashby, pilot (U.S.); Kent V. Rominger, commander (U.S.); Yuri V. Lonchakov, mission specialist (Russia); Scott E. Prazynski, mission specialist (U.S.).

STS041-S-096 (10 Oct 1990) --- The five astronaut crewmembers of Discovery's most recent flight pose for their first photo back on terra firma following their successful four day mission in earth orbit. Discovery, partially visible in this frame, touched down at Edwards Air Force Base at 6:57 a.m. PDT, Oct. 10, 1990. Astronaut Richard N. Richards (center) was mission commander. He is flanked here by (left to right) Astronauts Thomas D. Akers, Robert D. Cabana, Bruce E. Melnick and William M. Shepherd.

STS040-S-175 (14 June 1991) --- The main landing gear of the Space Shuttle Columbia touches down, on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in California, to complete a successful nine-day mission. The Spacelab Life Sciences (SLS-1) mission was the first ever devoted exclusively to life sciences research. Onboard the spacecraft were astronauts Bryan D. O'Connor, Sidney M. Gutierrez, Rhea Seddon, James P. Bagian and Tamara E. Jernigan; and payload specialists F. Drew Gaffney and Millie Hughes-Fulford. Landing occurred at 8:39:11 a.m. (PDT), June 14, 1991.

STS040-S-176 (14 June 1991) --- The main landing gear of the Space Shuttle Columbia touches down, on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in California, to complete a successful nine-day mission. The Spacelab Life Sciences (SLS-1) mission was the first ever devoted exclusively to life sciences research. Onboard the spacecraft were astronauts Bryan D. O'Connor, Sidney M. Gutierrez, Rhea Seddon, James P. Bagian and Tamara E. Jernigan; and payload specialists F. Drew Gaffney and Millie Hughes-Fulford. Landing occurred at 8:39:11 a.m. (PDT), June 14, 1991.

S81-39556 (13 Nov. 1981) --- This photograph of the cargo bay of NASA?s space shuttle Columbia was taken by the STS-2 crewmen from inside the shuttle?s cabin. In the foreground is the pallet of experiments developed by NASA?s Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications (OSTA). The orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pods and vertical stabilizer of Columbia are in upper left corner. The window through which this 70mm frame was exposed is one of two on the aft side of the flight deck. Astronauts Joe H. Engle, commander, and Richard H. Truly, pilot, were aboard the Columbia on its second trip for two days, six hours, 13 minutes and 10 seconds prior to landing at Edwards Air Force Base. Photo credit: NASA

STS117-S-049 (22 June 2007) --- Space Shuttle Atlantis' main landing gear touches down on runway 22 at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California concluding a successful assembly mission to the International Space Station. Atlantis landed on orbit 219 after 13 days, 20 hours and 12 minutes in space. The landing was diverted to California due to marginal weather at the Kennedy Space Center. Main gear touchdown was at 12:49:38 p.m. (PDT). Nose gear touchdown was at 12:49:49 p.m. and wheel stop was at 12:50:48 p.m. This was the 51st landing for the Space Shuttle Program at Edwards Air Force Base. The mission to the station was a success, installing and activating the S3/S4 truss and retracting the P6 arrays. Onboard were astronauts Rick Sturckow, commander; Lee Archambault, pilot; Jim Reilly, Steven Swanson, Patrick Forrester and John "Danny" Olivas, all STS-117 mission specialists. Also onboard was astronaut Sunita Williams, who was flight engineer on the Expedition 15 crew. She achieved a new milestone, a record-setting flight at 194 days, 18 hours and 58 minutes, the longest single spaceflight ever by a female astronaut or cosmonaut.

STS117-S-050 (22 June 2007) --- With drag chute deployed, Space Shuttle Atlantis slows to a stop after landing on runway 22 at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California concluding a successful assembly mission to the International Space Station. Atlantis landed on orbit 219 after 13 days, 20 hours and 12 minutes in space. The landing was diverted to California due to marginal weather at the Kennedy Space Center. Main gear touchdown was at 12:49:38 p.m. (PDT). Nose gear touchdown was at 12:49:49 p.m. and wheel stop was at 12:50:48 p.m. This was the 51st landing for the Space Shuttle Program at Edwards Air Force Base. The mission to the station was a success, installing and activating the S3/S4 truss and retracting the P6 arrays. Onboard were astronauts Rick Sturckow, commander; Lee Archambault, pilot; Jim Reilly, Steven Swanson, Patrick Forrester and John "Danny" Olivas, all STS-117 mission specialists. Also onboard was astronaut Sunita Williams, who was flight engineer on the Expedition 15 crew. She achieved a new milestone, a record-setting flight at 194 days, 18 hours and 58 minutes, the longest single spaceflight ever by a female astronaut or cosmonaut.

STS117-S-047 (22 June 2007) --- Space Shuttle Atlantis' main landing gear touches down on runway 22 at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California concluding a successful assembly mission to the International Space Station. Atlantis landed on orbit 219 after 13 days, 20 hours and 12 minutes in space. The landing was diverted to California due to marginal weather at the Kennedy Space Center. Main gear touchdown was at 12:49:38 p.m. (PDT). Nose gear touchdown was at 12:49:49 p.m. and wheel stop was at 12:50:48 p.m. This was the 51st landing for the Space Shuttle Program at Edwards Air Force Base. The mission to the station was a success, installing and activating the S3/S4 truss and retracting the P6 arrays. Onboard were astronauts Rick Sturckow, commander; Lee Archambault, pilot; Jim Reilly, Steven Swanson, Patrick Forrester and John "Danny" Olivas, all STS-117 mission specialists. Also onboard was astronaut Sunita Williams, who was flight engineer on the Expedition 15 crew. She achieved a new milestone, a record-setting flight at 194 days, 18 hours and 58 minutes, the longest single spaceflight ever by a female astronaut or cosmonaut.

STS042-S-093 (30 Jan 1992) --- Space Shuttle Discovery is just about to ease down its main gear on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. Main gear touchdown occurred at 8:07:18 a.m. (PST), Jan. 30, 1992. The successful landing completed an eight-day mission for five NASA astronauts and two payload specialists supporting the first International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-1) mission. Onboard were astronauts Ronald J. Grabe, mission commander; Stephen S. Oswald, pilot; Norman E. Thagard, payload commander; David C. Hilmers and William F. Readdy, both mission specialists; and payload specialists Roberta L. Bondar of Canada and Ulf Merbold, representing the European Space Agency (ESA).

STS066-S-040 (14 November 1994) --- The main landing gear is on the ground and the nose gear is about to touch down as the Space Shuttle Atlantis heads toward a stop at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California, ending a successful 10 day, 22 hour and 34 minute space mission. Landing occurred at 7:34 a.m. (PST), November 14, 1994. Onboard were astronauts Donald R. McMonagle, commander; Curtis L. Brown, Jr., pilot; Ellen S. Ochoa, payload commander; Scott E. Parazynski and Joseph R. Tanner, both mission specialists, along with European Space Agency (ESA) mission specialist Jean-Francois Clervoy. The crew supported the Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS-3) mission.