NASA awards contract for reduced-gravity test aircraft modifications
The $8.4 million firm-fixed-price contract runs through February 2027 and will enable parabolic flights to test astronaut lunar suits in simulated reduced-gravity conditions.
NASA has awarded a firm-fixed-price contract worth up to $8.4 million to Denmar Technical Services of Nevada. The agreement covers modifications, maintenance, and testing services for a Boeing 737-700 aircraft, aimed at supporting the agency’s Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate. The contract includes time and material provisions for any unforeseen work or tasks exceeding the initial scope.
The primary objective of the modification is to enable the aircraft to perform lunar-gravity parabolic flights. These flights simulate reduced-gravity conditions to validate astronaut lunar suits and associated crew systems. The testing is designed to occur in an operationally relevant environment prior to the execution of Artemis mission objectives.
Upon completion of the modifications, NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Centre in Edwards, California, will own the aircraft. Operations will be overseen out of NASA’s Johnson Space Centre in Houston. The contract is scheduled to run through February 1, 2027.
The modified 737 aircraft will serve as a critical tool for pre-mission validation. By replicating the reduced-gravity environment of the Moon, engineers and astronauts can verify the functionality of space equipment and suits before they are deployed on lunar missions.
Dede Dinius is the designated contact at Armstrong Flight Research Centre for further information regarding the agency and its programs.
