NASA repurposes former Air Force 737 for Artemis lunar gravity testing
The United States Air Force transferred ownership to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Centre in June, with flights to be conducted at Johnson Space Centre in Houston.
NASA’s Boeing 737 aircraft has been repainted in Oklahoma this week, marking a significant step in its conversion into a reduced-gravity test aircraft. The modification supports the agency’s broader objectives for lunar exploration and advanced flight systems research.
The aircraft was previously owned by the United States Air Force, which transferred ownership to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Centre in Edwards, California, in June. The repainting in Oklahoma is part of the ongoing physical and technical modifications required to prepare the jet for its new role.
Once fully converted, the aircraft will conduct lunar-gravity parabolic flights at NASA’s Johnson Space Centre in Houston. These flights are designed to validate astronaut lunar suits and associated crew systems required to support Artemis mission objectives. NASA Armstrong will provide oversight for these reduced-gravity operations.
In addition to its primary role in suit and system validation, the aircraft will serve as a key asset for systems-integration research. This includes testing flight testing autonomy, sensors, and other digital systems, contributing to the development of more advanced aerospace technologies.
The move underscores NASA’s strategy to utilise existing assets for critical mission support while advancing research into the digital and autonomous systems necessary for future space exploration.
