NASA pilot Carrie Worth, center, and Tracy Phelps, left, board the Gulfstream G-III aircraft on Friday, March 27, 2026, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Manny Rodriguez, crew chief, prepares the aircraft for flight. The G-III will join other NASA aircraft to capture imagery of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis II reentry. The mission is part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) project, based at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

A Gulfstream G-III takes off Friday, March 27, 2026, from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The G-III will join other NASA aircraft to capture imagery of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis II reentry. The mission is part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) project, based at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

NASA pilot Tracy Phelps inspects the Gulfstream G-III aircraft on Friday, March 27, 2026, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The G-III will join other NASA aircraft to capture imagery of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis II reentry. The mission is part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) project, based at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

A Gulfstream G-III takes off Friday, March 27, 2026, from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The G-III will join other NASA aircraft to capture imagery of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis II reentry. The mission is part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) project, based at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

Manny Rodriguez, Gulfstream G-III crew chief, completes flight control checks with the pilots on Friday, March 27, 2026, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The G-III will join other NASA aircraft to capture imagery of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis II reentry. The mission is part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) project, based at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

Scott Erickson, left, a quality assurance inspector, and Manny Rodriguez, Gulfstream G-III aircraft crew chief, remove window coverings from the aircraft on Friday, March 27, 2026, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The G-III will join other NASA aircraft to capture imagery of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis II reentry. The mission is part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) project, based at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

A Gulfstream G-III takes off Friday, March 27, 2026, from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The G-III will join other NASA aircraft to capture imagery of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis II reentry. The mission is part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) project, based at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

Scott Erickson, left, a quality assurance inspector, and Manny Rodriguez, Gulfstream G-III crew chief, prepare the aircraft for flight on Friday, March 27, 2026, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The G-III will join other NASA aircraft to capture imagery of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis II reentry. The mission is part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) project, based at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

Manny Rodriguez, center, Gulfstream G-III aircraft crew chief, drives a tug while mechanic Marlon Espinoza, left, and Scott Erickson, a quality assurance inspector, prepare the aircraft for takeoff on Friday, March 27, 2026, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The G-III will join other NASA aircraft to capture imagery of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis II reentry. The mission is part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) project, based at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

Aircraft mechanic Brian Harness, left, and mechanic Eric Apikian install a temporary aircraft window on a NASA Gulfstream G-III aircraft on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The modifications prepare the aircraft to join three others flying at different altitudes to capture a complete view of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis II reentry. This effort is part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery project.

Kelly Jellison, an avionics lead, installs a clip to secure wiring installed on a NASA Gulfstream G-III aircraft on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The modifications prepare the aircraft to join three others flying at different altitudes to capture a complete view of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis II reentry. This effort is part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery project.

A NASA Gulfstream G-III aircraft lifts off from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. Modifications were made to the aircraft to enable it to join three others flying at different altitudes to capture a complete view of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis II reentry. This effort is part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery project.

A NASA Gulfstream G-III aircraft lifts off from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. Modifications were made to the aircraft to enable it to join three others flying at different altitudes to capture a complete view of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis II reentry. This effort is part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery project.

Scott Erickson, a quality assurance inspector, reviews installation of a temporary aircraft window on a NASA Gulfstream G-III aircraft on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The modifications prepare the aircraft to join three others flying at different altitudes to capture a complete view of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis II reentry. This effort is part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery project.

Manny Rodriguez, Gulfstream G-III aircraft crew chief, left, and Eric Apikian, aircraft mechanic, attach an instrumented seat onto a G-III on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The modifications prepare the aircraft to join three others flying at different altitudes to capture a complete view of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis II reentry. This effort is part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery project.

Eric Apikian, an aircraft mechanic, vacuums a NASA Gulfstream G-III aircraft compartment after wiring was added for sensors on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The modifications prepare the aircraft to join three others flying at different altitudes to capture a complete view of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield during Artemis II reentry. This effort is part of NASA’s Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery project.