Atmospheric Probe Shows Promise in Test Flight

Justin Hall, left, chief pilot of small unmanned aircraft systems, carries the atmospheric probe at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The probe, which was designed and built at the center, flew after release from a quad rotor remotely piloted aircraft on Oct. 22, 2024, above Rogers Dry Lake, a flight area adjacent to the NASA center. At right, Justin Link, unmanned aircraft systems pilot, checks out the controllers for the two aircraft.

Justin Hall, left, chief pilot of small unmanned aircraft systems, carries the atmospheric probe at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The probe, which was designed and built at the center, flew after release from a quad rotor remotely piloted aircraft on Oct. 22, 2024, above Rogers Dry Lake, a flight area adjacent to the NASA center. At right, Justin Link, unmanned aircraft systems pilot, checks out the controllers for the two aircraft.

Photographer NASA/Steve Freeman
Location AFRC
NASA s Armstrong Flight Research CenterNASA ArmstrongAFRCFlight InnovationCenter Innovation Fundlifting body aircraftatmospheric probeAeronautics Research Mission DirectorateSpace Technology Mission DirectorateDale Reed Subscale Flight Research LaboratoryEdwards Air Force BaseCalifornia