Atmospheric Probe Shows Promise in Test Flight

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

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

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