NASA G-III Prepares to Support Artemis II

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.

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.

Photographer NASA/Genaro Vavuris
Album Armstrong_Artemis_Contributions
Location AFRC
NASA s Armstrong Flight Research CenterAFRCG-IIIGulfstreamArtemisSCIFLIOrionspacecraftScientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imageryheat shieldEdwards Air Force BaseCalifornia