The No Chase COA (NCC) team at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center pose for a group photo with the unmanned aircraft system the Ikhana.

NASA Administrator Bridenstine stands with AFRC center director McBride by model NASA's Supersonic X-Plane, X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology or QueSST. Bridenstine spoke at press event at Mojave Air and Space Port in California. The goal of X-59 is to quiet the sound when aircraft pierce the speed of sound and make a loud sonic boom on the ground.

NASA’s Subsonic Research Aircraft Testbed, or SCRAT, is a modified Gulfstream III that operates out of Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. SCRAT the test bed aircraft for the ACTE flexible-flap research project, which examines flexible wing flap technology’s benefits to aerodynamic efficiency.

Dana Backamn explains SOFIA’s observations during a flight with Airborne Astronomy Ambassador educators Adriana Alvarez and Mariela Muñoz.

The X-1B reaction control system thrusters are tested in 1958 and later proven on the X-15 as a way to control a vehicle in the absence of dynamic pressure.

Shivanjli Sharma, Air Traffic Management and Safety (ATMS) project manager, and pilot Wayne “Ringo” Ringelberg high-five ahead of an employee incentive flight from NASA’s Armstrong Research Center in Edwards, California. The flight offered a firsthand look at the aircraft and flight operations that help advance NASA’s aeronautics research. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman established the ride‑along program to recognize and reward workforce members for their dedication to advancing the agency’s priorities. Credit: NASA

Shivanjli Sharma, Air Traffic Management and Safety (ATMS) project manager, boards an F/A-18 aircraft at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, as part of an employee incentive flight on Thursday, April 23, 2026. The flight was piloted by Wayne “Ringo” Ringelberg and offered a firsthand look at the aircraft and flight operations that help advance NASA’s aeronautics research. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman established the ride‑along program to recognize and reward workforce members for their dedication to advancing the agency’s priorities. Credit: NASA

An F/A-18 aircraft soars through the sky from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Aboard is Sarah D’Souza, deputy systems manager for the Orion Thermal Protection System, piloted by Jim “Clue” Less, offering a firsthand look at the aircraft and flight operations that help advance NASA’s aeronautics research. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman established the ride-along program to recognize and reward workforce members for their dedication to advancing the agency’s priorities. Credit: NASA

Sarah D’Souza, deputy systems manager for the Orion Thermal Protection System, gives a thumbs up during her ride aboard an F/A-18 aircraft from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Piloted by Jim “Clue” Less, the flight was rewarded to D’Souza to spotlight her exceptional contributions to NASA under Administrator Jared Isaacman’s ride-along program. The program recognizes and rewards workforce members for their dedication to advancing the agency’s priorities. Credit: NASA

Sarah D’Souza, deputy systems manager for the Orion Thermal Protection System, stands in front of an F/A-18 aircraft at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, ahead of her flight through NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman’s ride-along program. The program recognizes and rewards workforce members for their dedication to advancing the agency’s priorities. Credit: NASA

A child poses in an astronaut cutout suit during Bring Kids to Work Day on June 17, 2025, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The event offered children and their families an up-close look at the center’s research aircraft and engaged them in educational activities promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

On June 17, 2025, NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, hosted Bring Kids to Work Day, offering hands-on activities that introduced children and their families to the exciting world of aeronautics and flight research.

On June 17, 2025, NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, hosted Bring Kids to Work Day, offering hands-on activities that introduced children and their families to the exciting world of aeronautics and flight research.

Children explore a virtual reality flight simulator during Bring Kids to Work Day on June 17, 2025, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The immersive experience introduced participants to aerospace engineering and flight research in an engaging, hands-on environment.

During Bring Kids to Work Day at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on June 17, 2025, participants pose with flight suit cutouts in front of NASA’s Quesst display. NASA's Quesst mission, which features the agency’s X-59 quiet supersonic experimental aircraft, will demonstrate technology to fly supersonic, or faster than the speed of sound, without generating loud sonic booms.

On June 17, 2025, NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, hosted Bring Kids to Work Day, offering hands-on activities that introduced children and their families to the exciting world of aeronautics and flight research.

Patrick Chan, electronics engineer, and NASA Armstrong’s FOSS portfolio project manager, closely examines an optic fiber inside of a protective sleeve. Armstrong’s Fiber Optic Sensing System recently supported tests in which oxygen was turned into liquid oxygen at minus 297 degrees Fahrenheit. Testing was aimed at developing technologies could allow future astronauts to manufacture rocket fuel on the Moon.

NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center flies the C-20 aircraft in support of the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) campaign on July 22, 2021.

NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center operates ER-2 #809 high-altitude aircraft for Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere (DCOTSS) science flights on June 17, 2021.

SOFIA Returns to NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 Caption: SOFIA returns to NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center building 703 in Palmdale, California on March 16, 2021 after spending six months in Germany conducting science observations.

SOFIA Returns to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 Caption: SOFIA pilots are welcomed home to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 in Palmdale, California on March 16, 2021. From left to right: Tracy Phelps, Jeff Borton and Wayne Ringelberg

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center ER-2 #809 high-altitude aircraft taking off for Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere (DCOTSS) science flights in Palmdale, CA on June 17, 2021.

NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center ER-2 #809 high-altitude aircraft prepped for Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere (DCOTSS) science flights in Palmdale, CA.

NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center ER-2 #809 high-altitude aircraft prepped for Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere (DCOTSS) science flights in Palmdale, CA.

SOFIA Returns to NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 Caption: SOFIA returns to NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 in Palmdale, California on March 16, 2021 after spending six months in Germany conducting science observations.

Particle Analysis by Laser Mass Spectrometry or PALMS instrument maintained by Dave Thomson and Justin Jacquot of Purdue University as part of NASA's Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere (DCOTSS) mission

NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center ER-2 #809 high-altitude aircraft prepared for Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere (DCOTSS) science flights in Palmdale, CA on June 17, 2021

A group of university students and mentors flew aboard NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center’s DC-8 aircraft to study air quality as part of NASA’s Student Airborne Research Program (SARP). Based at NASA’s Armstrong Building 703 in Palmdale, California, the DC-8 flew over the Central Valley to measure pollution and monitor air quality on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.

Patrick Chan, electronics engineer, and NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center’s FOSS portfolio project manager, shows a fiber used in a temperature sensing system. Armstrong’s Fiber Optic Sensing System was used to measure temperatures during tests aimed at turning oxygen into liquid oxygen. Testing was conducted at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

An F-16XL refuels in-flight. Only two XLs were built, and NASA eventually operated both for experimental purposes, including an active supersonic laminar flow experiment.

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center flies the C-20 aircraft in support of the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) campaign on July 22, 2021. 

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center ER-2 #809 high-altitude aircraft maintained by avionics technician Gregory Bantalin for Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere (DCOTSS) science flights.

NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center ER-2 #809 high-altitude aircraft prepared for Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere (DCOTSS) science flights in Palmdale, CA on June 17, 2021.

NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center ER-2 #809 high-altitude aircraft prepped for Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere (DCOTSS) science flights in Palmdale, CA.

The AeroVironment Helios high-altitude, solar-powered aircraft flies in Kauai, Hawaii. Helios reached 96,300 feet altitude, the record for sustained, level flight for a winged aircraft.

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center operates ER-2 #809 high-altitude aircraft for Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere (DCOTSS) science flights on June 17, 2021.

The X-31, the world’s first international X-plane, demonstrates controlled flight at high alpha courtesy of its canards and thrust vectoring paddles in the exhaust stream.

NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center flies the C-20 aircraft in support of the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) campaign on July 22, 2021.

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center ER-2 #809 high-altitude aircraft prepped for Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere (DCOTSS) science flights in Palmdale, CA.

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center flies the C-20 aircraft in support of the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) campaign on July 22, 2021. 

NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center ER-2 pilot Gary Toroni and engineering technician Raul "Corky" Cortes preparing for Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere (DCOTSS) science flights in Palmdale, CA on June 17, 2021.

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center’s FOSS, Fiber Optic Sensing System, recently supported tests of a system designed to turn oxygen into liquid oxygen, a component of rocket fuel. Patrick Chan, electronics engineer, and NASA Armstrong’s FOSS portfolio project manager, shows fiber like that used in the testing.

Matt Berry, left, and Chris Jennison examine incoming data on NASA’s DC-8 airborne science aircraft. The 62-year-old ex-airliner is one of seven DC-8s still flying.

Tim Logan

NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center flies the DC-8 airborne science laboratory in support of the Convective Processes Experiment - Aerosols and Winds campaign, CPEX-AW, on Aug 6, 2021. From left to right: Nils Larson, David Fedors and Mark Crane

NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center flies the DC-8 airborne science laboratory in support of the Convective Processes Experiment - Aerosols and Winds campaign, CPEX-AW, on Aug 6, 2021.

C-20A crew chief Vince Moreno inspects the aircraft.

Goddard Space Center’s Laura Duncanson records global positioning satellite coordinates of the Pongara Mangrove and tree heights and diameters.

A member of the Gabon National Park Agency Ecoguard discussed the next research destination with Lola Fatoyinbo, Marc Simard and Laura Duncanson.

AfriSAR team members Sassan Saatchi (left) from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Laura Duncanson from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center take measurements of trees in the rainforest in the Mondah National Park, Gabon, Africa.

Members of the AfriSAR team standing by the C-20A in Gabon, Africa, which is usually based at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in California include, from left, John McGrath, Carlos Meza, Stu Broce, Samuel Choi, David Fedors, Naiara Pinto, Mark Scherer, Marc Simard, Vincent Moreno, Chuck Irving and Kean Tham.

Tanguay Gahouma Bekale, director general of the Gabonese Space Agency, talks to media about the AfriSAR mission.

The Okoume’ tree grows tall above the other flora to reach for the suns energy.

In Gabon, Africa, the Mondah National Park is one of the field research sites for NASA’s AfriSAR campaign. Gabon is a Central African country slightly smaller than the state of Colorado that features the world’s second largest rainforest. In addition to environmental measurements, the flights were used for calibrating satellites for current and upcoming missions.

The Okoumé tree is large, as compared to a hand seen in the bottom right portion of the image. The Mondah National Park is one of the field research sites for NASA’s AfriSAR campaign.

The NASA Langley Research Center-based B-200 in Gabon, Africa, was visited by three representatives of the Gabon Ministry of the Numerical Economy (the three women seen in the middle). In the photo from left are Bryan Blair, Rick Yasky, the three Gabon representatives, Alan Barringer and Lola Fatoyinbo.

Mark Scherer prepares the C-20A for the AfriSAR mission.

Sam Choi and Naiara Pinto observe Google Earth overlaid with in almost real time what the synthetic aperture radar is mapping from the C-20A aircraft. Researchers were in the sky and on the ground to take measurements of plant mass, distribution of trees, shrubs and ground cover and the diversity of plants and how much carbon is absorbed by them.

Armstrong Pilots David Fedors and Stu Broce are at the controls of the C-20A in March 2016 as it flies a synthetic aperture radar over areas of interest in the AfriSAR mission based in Gabon, Africa. The international campaign included measurements of flora in the country’s rainforests, wetlands, mangrove forests and savanna.

NASA’s C-20A takes off from Libreville International Airport in Gabon, Africa, in support of the AfriSAR  campaign in March 2016. Gabon is a Central African country slightly smaller than the state of Colorado that features the world’s second largest rainforest. In addition to environmental measurements, the flights were used for calibrating satellites for current and upcoming missions.

During an education outreach event in Gabon, Africa, students and educators, look at the German Aerospace Center Dornier DO-228 twin-engine turboprop aircraft.

Marc Simard of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory installs a gauge that will record water level changes in the Pongara Mongrove.

NASA researchers walk through the Mondah rainforest to collect tree and flora measurements and other data as part of the AfriSAR mission.

Giovanna Camacho, Pathways systems engineering intern from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, teaches students about aeronautics during Aero Fair at Tropico Middle School in Rosamond, California, on April 9, 2025.

Students from Tropico Middle School in Rosamond, California, build their own paper planes as part of a project during NASA Aero Fair on April 9, 2025.

Brad Flick, center director at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, presents a 2024 NASA College Scholarship Award to Sabrina Redifer. From left to right are Sabrina Redifer’s parents Matthew and Saynne Redifer, Flick, Sabrina Redifer, and her sister Samantha Redifer.

Gary Laier, center liaison for the Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, teaches students about aeronautics during Aero Fair at Tropico Middle School in Rosamond, California, on April 9, 2025.

Gary Laier, center liaison for the Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, teaches students about aeronautics during Aero Fair at Tropico Middle School in Rosamond, California, on April 9, 2025.

Giovanna Camacho, Pathways systems engineering intern at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, teaches students about aeronautics during Aero Fair at Tropico Middle School in Rosamond, California, on April 9, 2025.

A NASA ER-2 aircraft takes off from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, to support the Geological Earth Mapping Experiment (GEMx) airborne science mission.

A Gulfstream GV aircraft sits on the ramp at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. This aircraft is being modified to support the Airborne Science Program.

A NASA TG-14 sits on the ramp at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, to support NASA’s Quesst mission.

Rocky Radcliff, Kevin Hall, and Herman “Chico” Rijfkogel stand in front of NASA’s DC-8 aircraft at the agency’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 in Palmdale, California. On May 2, 2024, NASA personnel, friends, and family celebrated the DC-8 staff, aircraft, and science campaigns.

Orville, NASA’s high-flying squirrel, finds mischief onboard the DC-8 aircraft at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 in Palmdale, California. On May 2, 2024, NASA personnel, friends, and family celebrated the DC-8 staff, aircraft, and science campaigns.

Members of past science missions pose together in front of the DC-8 aircraft’s left engine turbine at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 in Palmdale, California. From left are avionics lead Kelly Jellison, chemical scientist Katherine Ball, DC-8 Deputy Program Manager Kirsten Boogaard, and DC-8 safety engineer Garry Moors. On May 2, 2024, NASA personnel, friends, and family celebrated the DC-8 staff, aircraft, and science campaigns.

The X-59 simulator at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, will help pilots prepare for Quesst missions. Quesst is NASA's mission to demonstrate how the X-59 can fly supersonic without generating loud sonic booms and then survey what people hear when it flies overhead.

NASA Student Airborne Research Program participants pose in front of the DC-8 before their flight on Jun 23, 2022. The students are joined by mentors and professors to study air quality over the Central Valley in California.

Members of the DC-8 program team tour an empty aircraft and recall past missions. Usually the DC-8 has between 15 and 30 instrument racks installed for a given science mission. The aircraft was spacious by comparison on May 2, 2024, when NASA personnel, friends, and family gathered at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 in Palmdale, California to celebrate the DC-8 staff, aircraft, and science campaigns. Conversing here are DC-8 aircraft deputy manager Kirsten Boogaard, left, with NASA Armstrong pilot Carrie Worth, Mike Zimmerman, and NASA Armstrong public affairs specialist for airborne science, Erica Heim.

Orville, NASA’s high-flying squirrel, tries his paw at piloting the DC-8 aircraft at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 in Palmdale, California. On May 2, 2024, NASA personnel, friends, and family celebrated the DC-8 staff, aircraft, and science campaigns.

Orville, NASA’s high-flying squirrel, hangs onto the DC-8 aircraft at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 in Palmdale, California. On May 2, 2024, NASA personnel, friends, and family celebrated the DC-8 staff, aircraft, and science campaigns.

Retired NASA mission manager Chris Jennison and Randy Albertson, right, who retired in 2019 as NASA’s Airborne Science Program deputy director, stand in front of the DC-8 aircraft at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 in Palmdale, California. On May 2, 2024, NASA personnel, friends, and family celebrated the DC-8 staff, aircraft, and science campaigns.

People tour the inside of the DC-8 aircraft at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 in Palmdale, California. On May 2, 2024, NASA personnel, friends, and family celebrated the DC-8 staff, aircraft, and science campaigns.

Orville, NASA’s high-flying squirrel, uses the microphone at the mission director station onboard the DC-8 aircraft at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 in Palmdale, California. On May 2, 2024, NASA personnel, friends, and family celebrated the DC-8 staff, aircraft, and science campaigns.

NASA pilot Tracy Phelps and his daughter Rachael Phelps look at a poster onboard the DC-8 at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 in Palmdale, California. On May 2, 2024, NASA personnel, friends, and family celebrated the DC-8 staff, aircraft, and science campaigns.

NASA researchers Mike Frederick, right, and Michelle Banchy, left, along with Ashante Jordan and intern Phillip Nguyen, sit in a control room and prepare for a flight test Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The agency’s Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) project aims to lower fuel costs for future commercial aircraft by testing a scale-model wing designed to improve laminar flow.

NASA flight test engineer A.J. Jaffe and pilot Nils Larson walk on the ramp before a flight Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The two support the agency’s Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) project, which aims to lower fuel costs for future commercial aircraft by testing a scale-model wing designed to improve laminar flow.

NASA test pilots Jim Less, left, and Nils Larson walk away from a hangar at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2026. The pilots support the agency’s Crossflow Attenuated Natural Laminar Flow (CATNLF) project, which aims to lower fuel costs for future commercial aircraft by testing a scale-model wing designed to improve laminar flow.

NASA Associate Administrator for Aeronautics Jaiwon Shin talked to staff and managers at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in California March 17 about the New Horizons initiative. The 10-year plan could substantially improve aviation and provide major economic benefits.

NASA's DC-8 taking off to St. Croix in support of the Convective Processes Experiment - Aerosols and Winds campaign (CPEX-AW) on Aug 17, 2021.

NASA's all-electric X-57 Maxwell aircraft undergoes high voltage ground testing at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in California. A goal of the X-57 project is to help the Federal Aviation Administration set certification standards for emerging electric aircraft markets.

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, flew the B200 King Air in support of the Signals of Opportunity Synthetic Aperture Radar (SoOpSAR) campaign on Feb. 27, 2023.

The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) returns to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 on Aug. 11 after a productive month of science flights out of Christchurch International Airport in New Zealand.

Boeing’s MD-90 aircraft flies from Victorville California to Palmdale, California on August 15, 2023. This aircraft will be NASA’s future Sustainable Flight Demonstrator. Modifications to the aircraft will include changes to the fuselage and most notably the use of a transonic truss-braced wing.

NASA and Samaritan's Purse DC-8 aircrafts met on the ramp in front of NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703.

The 2025 internship class at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, stand in front of the historic X-1E aircraft on display at the center. From left, are interns: Tyler Requa, Gokul Nookula, Madeleine Phillips, Oscar Keiloht Chavez Ramirez, and Nicolas Marzocchetti.