NASA has repainted a 737 aircraft in Oklahoma as part of its conversion into a reduced-gravity research vehicle for Artemis mission support.
Key facts
- •The aircraft was repainted in Oklahoma as of Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026.
- •NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center took ownership of the plane from the U.S. Air Force in June.
- •The aircraft will perform parabolic flights to test lunar suits and crew systems for Artemis missions.
- •Flight testing for the aircraft will be conducted at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
- •The plane will also support research into autonomous flight systems and sensors.
A NASA 737 aircraft was repainted in Oklahoma this week as the agency continues modifications to prepare the plane for reduced-gravity testing. NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center, located in Edwards, California, acquired the aircraft from the United States Air Force in June.
Testing Artemis Systems
The aircraft is intended to conduct parabolic flights that simulate lunar gravity. These tests are designed to validate astronaut lunar suits and crew systems necessary for the Artemis program. Operations will be based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston under the oversight of NASA Armstrong.
Research and Integration
Beyond lunar-gravity testing, the 737 will function as a research asset for systems-integration. It will be used to flight-test autonomous technologies, sensors, and various digital systems.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by NASA Breaking News.
