NASA Armstrong

The X-59 has touched down at its new home! On Oct. 28, 2025, the X-59 completed its first flight, taking off from the @LockheedMartin Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California, and landing at @EdwardsAFB after a 67-minute flight. The quiet supersonic research aircraft then taxied to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, marking its transition from ground testing to flight operations.

Envelope expansion isn't just about going higher and faster for an X-plane like NASA's quiet supersonic X-59. It's also about understanding how a one-of-a-kind aircraft operates in flight. With each maneuver, engineers collect data and learn more about the aircraft's performance. Learn more about the X-59's most recent flight test maneuvers here: go.nasa.gov/48D7Ngu

Testing the future of flight. ✈️ A wing design could help future airliners burn less fuel and lower operating costs. NASA and Boeing finished another wind-tunnel test to understand how the truss-braced wing design performs at takeoff and landing. 🔗: go.nasa.gov/3OChXqV 📷: QinetiQ

Breaking barriers, quieting booms. ✨ NASA’s X 59 is redefining what’s possible in supersonic flight. Get the latest mission updates on the Quesst blog: nasa.gov/blogs/quesst

Would you board a simulated moving, virtual reality aircraft ride for research? Take a look behind-the-scenes at simulated flights in NASA Armstrong's Human Flight Experiences Lab. The agency wants to discover how aircraft motion affects passenger comfort, so developers can design aircraft with smooth flights for the passengers in mind. Learn more about NASA Armstrong's capabilities here: go.nasa.gov/48jCMhq

NASA’s X-59 is helping the nation celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence with an update to its livery – its official paint job and insignia💫 As of its second flight, the X-59 sported a Freedom 250 logo on its engine, and it will be showing off the new detail with every upcoming test flight. @NASAAdmin

It's our home. This Earth Day, see our planet as our Artemis II astronauts saw it with these new images from the mission.

From breathtaking overhead shots of space shuttle Endeavour to iconic SR-71 takeoffs, F-18 ejection seat tests, and Capsule Parachute Assembly System extractions, her lens has documented some of the most incredible moments in aerospace. Congratulations, Carla, on an extraordinary achievement and a career that’s helped us see the skies like never before! ✈️📸

Another milestone in a remarkable career: 1,000 flights! After 38 years with NASA Armstrong, aerial photographer Carla Thomas completed her 1,000th flight. Carla has captured NASA history from the sky aboard more than 20 different high-performance and science aircraft.

NASA is taking employee recognition to new heights – literally! ✈️☁️ This week, select NASA Armstrong employees got to fly high above NASA’s home for flight test. These flights are part of @NASAAdmin’s effort to spotlight exceptional contributions across the agency. NASA Armstrong is proud to support this ongoing effort!

Wheels up for NASA’s X-59. ✈️ In its first wheels-up flight, the aircraft revealed its sleek, streamlined design—key to reducing sonic booms to a quiet thump. See how this milestone moves us closer to quiet supersonic flight over land: go.nasa.gov/41B3YV6

LIVE: They are coming home. Watch as the Artemis II crew returns to Earth, splashing down at around 8:07pm ET (0007 UTC April 11). twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

LIVE: Watch with us as the Artemis II astronauts make their closest approach to the Moon, traveling farther from Earth than ever before. twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

Good morning, world! 🌎 We have spectacular new high-resolution images of our home planet, all of us looking back through the Orion capsule window at our Artemis II astronauts as they continue their journey to the Moon.

🚀 What’s the difference between flying an airplane and a spacecraft? Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover break it down—and share how their flight experience ✈️ translates to operating Orion. Watch the full explanation: 🎥 go.nasa.gov/4salQki 🌍 From runways to rockets, the path to the Moon starts here. #ArtemisII #NASA #NASAAeronautics #Orion

We're going around the Moon. Come watch with us. Artemis II's four-astronaut crew is lifting off from @NASAKennedy on an approximately 10-day mission that will bring us closer to living on the Moon and Mars. The launch window opens at 6:24pm ET (2224 UTC). twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

The X-59 successfully made its third flight today, & @NASA's excited to have the quiet supersonic jet in the air again! With Flight #3, the aircraft took off+landed near @NASAarmstrong & flew for about an hour while its team evaluated performance. More flights are expected soon! nasa.gov/mission/quesst/

Teamwork makes the dream work! 🤝 NASA Armstrong and NASA Glenn are expanding flight research capabilities by jointly using a PC-12 aircraft. The companion trainer, a T-34 aircraft, is now also housed at NASA Armstrong to be evaluated for use as a flight research and pilot training platform. 🔗: go.nasa.gov/40Sf3AT

For more than three decades, Jim's images have brought audiences around the world closer to the experience of flight. His work has appeared in National Geographic, Air & Space Smithsonian, and Aviation Week. Join us in celebrating this incredible milestone! Congratulations, Jim, and thank you for showing us the world from your perspective!

1,000th Flight Complete! ✈️ 📸 NASA Armstrong aerial photographer Jim Ross has completed his 1,000th flight, flying in the backseat of a NASA F/A‑18 with pilot Jim “Clue” Less. Since 1989, Jim has flown in a wide variety of aircraft, capturing moments few people ever witness and helping share NASA’s story from a truly rare vantage point.