NASA G-III Prepares to Support Artemis II

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.

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