NASA Armstrong
@NASAArmstrong

The Armstrong Flight Research Center is NASA's primary center for atmospheric flight research & operations.

 Edwards, California
nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/h…
Joined March 2009
2,647 Photos and videos
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.
NASA Aeronautics
@NASAaero
19 Nov 2025
X-59 has officially completed its first flight ever! The @NASA X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft took to the skies for the first time Oct. 28, marking a historic moment for the field of aeronautics research. ✈️A culmination of all the right stuff: go.nasa.gov/3K3QsnC
40
93
398
58,997
Welcome home, ER-2! After 3 months supporting the INSPYRE (INjected Smoke and PYRocumulonimbus Experiment) campaign in Montana, NASA’s high-altitude aircraft is back at Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. INSPYRE studies how wildfire smoke gets lofted high into the atmosphere and can influence our climate. More on the INSPYRE campaign: go.nasa.gov/46JtkTd
NASA aircraft on the ramp at sunrise, with vivid pink and purple clouds filling the sky as ground crew members work nearby. Credit: David Telle/Montana Air National Guard

ALT NASA aircraft on the ramp at sunrise, with vivid pink and purple clouds filling the sky as ground crew members work nearby. Credit: David Telle/Montana Air National Guard

View from an aircraft window showing an experiment pod and the ocean below, with bright sunlight reflecting off the water and a faint reflection of an American flag patch on the window. Credit: Darick Alvarez-Alonzo/NASA

ALT View from an aircraft window showing an experiment pod and the ocean below, with bright sunlight reflecting off the water and a faint reflection of an American flag patch on the window. Credit: Darick Alvarez-Alonzo/NASA

NASA aircraft parked on a runway under a dramatic, cloud‑filled sky at dawn, with another red‑and‑white aircraft in the background. Credit: Kirt Stallings/NASA

ALT NASA aircraft parked on a runway under a dramatic, cloud‑filled sky at dawn, with another red‑and‑white aircraft in the background. Credit: Kirt Stallings/NASA

4
13
90
4,520
NASA’s new X-59 test pilot Mike Lippert has powered up the aircraft for his first time as he gets closer to his first flight in the X-plane. With guidance from fellow test pilots and months of simulator training, he’s gaining critical insight to how the cockpit and control room sync in real time. go.nasa.gov/4y34ud4
Mike Lippert, one of NASA’s X‑59 test pilots, sits in the cockpit of the agency’s X‑59 quiet supersonic research aircraft for the first time during an engine run at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. Credit: NASA/Carla Escamilla

ALT Mike Lippert, one of NASA’s X‑59 test pilots, sits in the cockpit of the agency’s X‑59 quiet supersonic research aircraft for the first time during an engine run at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. Credit: NASA/Carla Escamilla

5
26
165
11,518
On this 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, NASA Armstrong joined the Bakersfield Fire Department and the surrounding community in a commemorative flyover. The event paid tribute to the Americans who perished on that tragic day and reaffirmed our commitment to service and remembrance.
Inside‑cockpit view of a NASA jet aircraft captured by NASA photographer Jim Ross during a Sept. 11 commemorative flyover over the Bakersfield Fire Department and surrounding community. Credit: NASA/Jim Ross

ALT Inside‑cockpit view of a NASA jet aircraft captured by NASA photographer Jim Ross during a Sept. 11 commemorative flyover over the Bakersfield Fire Department and surrounding community. Credit: NASA/Jim Ross

Bakersfield Fire Department in California honors the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. Credit: NASA/Ryan Kline

ALT Bakersfield Fire Department in California honors the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. Credit: NASA/Ryan Kline

A NASA F/A‑18 performs a commemorative flyover above the Bakersfield Fire Department and surrounding community in recognition of the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. Credit: NASA/Carla Escamilla

ALT A NASA F/A‑18 performs a commemorative flyover above the Bakersfield Fire Department and surrounding community in recognition of the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. Credit: NASA/Carla Escamilla

4
45
305
12,642
NASA Armstrong retweeted
NASA
@NASA
Sep 11
25 years ago, the Sept. 11th tragedy left us forever changed. Today, we pause to remember the Americans who lost their lives — as well as the survivors and the heroes of that day. We will never forget: go.nasa.gov/4r9kCai
NASA astronaut Jessica Meir photographed the New York City area from the International Space Station in March 2020. Credit: NASA

ALT NASA astronaut Jessica Meir photographed the New York City area from the International Space Station in March 2020. Credit: NASA

213
1,200
15,062
1,617,652
Innovation soars with our interns! ✨ At NASA Armstrong, students gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology that evolves into real aerospace applications. Guided by mentors with decades of flight research expertise, interns learn how ideas become missions and how data become discovery. Deadline to apply for Spring 2027 internships is September 14: go.nasa.gov/4yvkMv4
4
15
66
8,176
Get an up‑close look at NASA’s high‑altitude flying laboratory as the ER‑2 reaches MaxPower!
NASA
@NASA
Sep 4
AvGeeks, assemble! MAX POWER lands in Florida on Nov. 7–8, with an F‑104 flyover by the Starfighters and NASA’s ER‑2 on static display. Get the details: nasa.gov/maxpower
3
9
53
7,820
NASA’s X-59 progresses through its 25th flight, continuing to pass performance marks as the team advances closer toward the upcoming acoustic validation phase! A major step toward the future of over-land supersonic travel. go.nasa.gov/4gBuQwv
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft flies above the Mojave Desert in California on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. Credit: NASA/Jim Ross

ALT NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft flies above the Mojave Desert in California on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. Credit: NASA/Jim Ross

26
95
612
25,766
Empowering future talent! Interns working on NASA’s Robust Autonomous Aerial Capture Evolution (RAACE) project are investigating how a mothership could deploy drones to collect samples, recharge, and redeploy – saving fuel and increasing efficiency for future science missions. Another great example of our interns driving innovation at NASA! Apply by September 14 for Spring 2027 internships: go.nasa.gov/46E2ewI
1
5
28
4,453
NASA Armstrong retweeted
NASA
@NASA
Aug 31
Did you miss @NASARoman lift off into space yesterday? Check out our recap of the launch — and what we're learning from Roman. Next, the telescope will spend the next few months flying to its new home 1 million miles from Earth.
94
438
3,131
844,211
Be part of the bigger picture! 🌌 With more than a million individual pixels per pointing of Roman’s Wide Field Imager, there’s a spot for everyone in Roman’s first images, set to be released in the next few months. Grab your certificate and pixel number now: go.nasa.gov/AdoptAPixel
This certifies that "Nancy Roman has officially adopted one pixel from Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's first images." The number 2 is at the bottom, representing the unique pixel number assigned to Nancy Roman.

ALT This certifies that "Nancy Roman has officially adopted one pixel from Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's first images." The number 2 is at the bottom, representing the unique pixel number assigned to Nancy Roman.

142
404
2,454
345,611
From test pilot to astronaut, and from Southern California to the Moon! 🚀🌞✨ NASA astronaut Victor Glover returned to familiar ground this week, visiting NASA Armstrong, the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, and students at Edwards Air Force Base. He shared stories from his journey as a U.S. Navy captain, test pilot, and Artemis II astronaut, along with the message he often gives students: be resilient, keep learning, respect the people around you, and remember that you’re not walking your path alone. The next giant leap begins with people willing to take the first step.
A NASA astronaut wearing a bright blue flight suit speaks to a large audience inside an aircraft hangar. Credit: NASA/Carla Escamilla

ALT A NASA astronaut wearing a bright blue flight suit speaks to a large audience inside an aircraft hangar. Credit: NASA/Carla Escamilla

A NASA astronaut wearing a bright blue flight suit speaks to a large audience inside an aircraft hangar. Credit: NASA/Carla Escamilla

ALT A NASA astronaut wearing a bright blue flight suit speaks to a large audience inside an aircraft hangar. Credit: NASA/Carla Escamilla

A NASA astronaut wearing a bright blue flight suit speaks to a small audience of students at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. Credit: NASA/Carla Escamilla

ALT A NASA astronaut wearing a bright blue flight suit speaks to a small audience of students at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. Credit: NASA/Carla Escamilla

A NASA astronaut wearing a bright blue flight suit speaks to a large audience of students in a high school auditorium. Credit: NASA/Ryan Kline

ALT A NASA astronaut wearing a bright blue flight suit speaks to a large audience of students in a high school auditorium. Credit: NASA/Ryan Kline

2
35
167
12,358
"Every great journey starts with a single moment of wonder. As a child, I was too small to reach the controls, but still big enough to dream." — Shawn Kern, Director for Flight Operations (Acting) ✨ What sparked your love of aviation? Share your #FlightSpark! Post a photo that captures your Flight Spark, a photo of where that journey has taken you today, and a short caption.
A young boy sits in the cockpit of a gray aircraft. Credit: Shawn Kern

ALT A young boy sits in the cockpit of a gray aircraft. Credit: Shawn Kern

Pilot, Shawn Kern, stands in front of a NASA F-18 in a tan flight suit. Credit: NASA

ALT Pilot, Shawn Kern, stands in front of a NASA F-18 in a tan flight suit. Credit: NASA

2
11
51
9,443
The best view of the mission comes from inside it! ✈️ NASA Administrator Isaacman’s Incentive Experience Awards honor employees who make our missions possible – recognizing excellence, igniting curiosity, and giving our workforce a firsthand look at the aircraft and systems that keep us soaring. These experiences spark greater collaboration, deeper understanding, and a shared commitment to safer skies. Let’s keep lifting each other higher!
3
25
112
9,965
NASA’s new 737 debuts its fresh paint scheme as it gears up for lunar gravity test flights supporting Artemis space equipment development, along with future systems-integration research. 🔗: go.nasa.gov/4wZ37LN
A newly painted NASA 737 aircraft sits on a ramp in Oklahoma on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. Credit: NASA/Carla Escamilla

ALT A newly painted NASA 737 aircraft sits on a ramp in Oklahoma on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. Credit: NASA/Carla Escamilla

16
109
815
54,622
Sonic booms follow aircraft the entire time they fly at supersonic speeds – not just the moment they exceed Mach 1. As NASA advances research toward quiet supersonic flight, learn more about how sonic booms happen. ✈️ 🔗: go.nasa.gov/4g5IVkc
Shock waves surrounding a NASA T‑38 aircraft captured with schlieren imaging. Credit: NASA

ALT Shock waves surrounding a NASA T‑38 aircraft captured with schlieren imaging. Credit: NASA

11
86
573
26,615
Small aircraft, big innovation! NASA uses remotely piloted and autonomous subscale aircraft to rapidly test new aerospace concepts before full-scale development, accelerating mission-driven innovation. 🔗: go.nasa.gov/4hjDjFk
4
12
85
8,476
NASA Armstrong retweeted
NASA
@NASA
Aug 5
On Aug. 12, you have the chance to experience a total solar eclipse from anywhere in the world. Starting at 1:15pm ET (1715 UTC), we'll stream live as the Moon passes in front of the Sun, bringing the views and the science straight to you. Get safe viewing tips in this video.
288
2,990
11,752
1,914,891
Load more