NASA's Operation Ice Bridge campaign to image and map Antarctica's sea ice and glaciers has completed a dozen flights as of Nov. 2.
Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility
Dryden's Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale offers the expanded space needed to manage the Center's airborne science missions and research platforms.
This Week in Dryden's History
A collection of historical facts and events from Dryden's last 50 years.
DFRC Tour Information
Instructions for booking group and individual tours of Dryden Flight Research Center
DFRC Severe Weather Instructions
Employee procedures for determining if Dryden is open for a normal workday during severe weather conditions.
Dryden News
LaserMotive Wins $900,000 from NASA in Space Elevator Games
Andy Petro of NASA's Centennial Challenges program congratulates Tom Nugent and Jordan Kare of the LaserMotive team that won the Space Elevator Power-Beaming Challenge Games at NASA Dryden Nov. 6, as Ben Shelef of the sponsoring Spaceward Foundation looks on. LaserMotive won the second-tier award of $900,000 by propelling their laser-powered robotic climber up a 900-meter cable suspended from a hovering helicopter in 3 minutes and 48 seconds. (NASA photo / Tom Tschida)
The Seattle-based LaserMotive team was declared the winner of the Space Elevator Power-Beaming Challenge Games Nov. 6 after the final day of competition at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center on Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California.
LaserMotive won $900,000 from NASA's Centennial Challenges program for meeting the Level 1 standard of having their laser-powered robot climb a 900-meter-long cable suspended from a hovering helicopter in less than 7.5 minutes. The team accomplished that goal four times in the first two days of competition, the quickest being in 3 minutes and 48 seconds.
› Read more
For more see www.spaceelevatorgames.org.
Andy Petro of NASA's Centennial Challenges program congratulates Tom Nugent and Jordan Kare of the LaserMotive team that won the Space Elevator Power-Beaming Challenge Games at NASA Dryden Nov. 6, as Ben Shelef of the sponsoring Spaceward Foundation looks on. LaserMotive won the second-tier award of $900,000 by propelling their laser-powered robotic climber up a 900-meter cable suspended from a hovering helicopter in 3 minutes and 48 seconds. (NASA photo / Tom Tschida) The Seattle-based LaserMotive team was declared the winner of the Space Elevator Power-Beaming Challenge Games Nov. 6 after the final day of competition at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center on Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California.
LaserMotive won $900,000 from NASA's Centennial Challenges program for meeting the Level 1 standard of having their laser-powered robot climb a 900-meter-long cable suspended from a hovering helicopter in less than 7.5 minutes. The team accomplished that goal four times in the first two days of competition, the quickest being in 3 minutes and 48 seconds.
› Read more
For more see www.spaceelevatorgames.org.
Latest News
Antarctic Ice Bridge Mission Completes Dozen Flights
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One of NASA's three X-38 Crew Return Vehicle technology demonstrators that flew at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., a decade ago has found a new home in ...
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Moments after unveiling a new painting by noted aviation artist Robert McCall depicting former NASA astronaut and research pilot Neil Armstrong, new NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden discussed his ...
News and Features
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NASA's Global Hawk #872 Back in the Air
NASA's Global Hawk No. 872 banks for landing over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., during its second check flight Oct. 23.
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Orion Mockups Mated at WSMR
White Sands Missile Range technicians recently practiced stacking mockups of the Orion Pad Abort-1 flight test launch abort system and crew module.
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NASA Dryden’s McTigue, Love Honored as Eagles
Retired NASA Dryden employees John McTigue and Betty Love were honored as 2009 Eagles by the Flight Test Historical Foundation at the group’s Gathering of Eagles.
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NASA Sponsors Astronomy Workshop for Educators
Middle school educators are invited to an astronomy workshop Nov. 3 that will offer hands-on activities to help students understand the importance of astronomical observations.
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2009 Space Elevator Power Beaming Contest Reset for Nov. 4
The Spaceward Foundation has rescheduled 2009 Space Elevator Power-Beaming Challenge Games for Nov. 4 at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California.
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Aviation Pioneer Richard T. Whitcomb
Richard T. Whitcomb has been called the most significant aerodynamic contributor of the second half of the 20th century.
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SOFIA Imaging Systems Tested During Nighttime Operations
The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy science team completed checkout of optical star tracking camera systems and conducted telescope assembly preparation exercises.
Dryden Spotlight
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Operation Ice Bridge
Scientists aboard NASA’s DC-8 flying laboratory are studying changes to Antarctica's sea ice, glaciers and ice sheets in Operation Ice Bridge.
› Read Mission Status Report
› Read News Release 09-65
› View Photos
› View Mission Videos → -
SOFIA
NASA is developing the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy - or SOFIA - as a world-class airborne observatory that will complement the Hubble, Spitzer, Herschel and James Webb space telescopes and major Earth-based telescopes.
› Mission Update -
STS-129
Space shuttle Atlantis will continue assembly of the International Space Station and return station crew member Nicole Stott to Earth.
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Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle
NASA Dryden is leading the Orion crew module launch abort system flight test effort, including crew module systems integration for the first two flights.
› Orion Fact Sheet
› Orion Photos
› Orion Movies →
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X-15 Interactive Feature
The sensational, iconic, and groundbreaking X-15 hypersonic research aircraft extended flight to the edge of space during the 1950s and 1960s.
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Research Update
Current flight research projects and programs being flown at Dryden Flight Research Center.
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50th Anniversary X-Press
Dryden has made many significant contributions to NASA's mission since the agency's inception five decades ago. The 50th anniversary issue of the X-Press profiles 61 employees and 28 current and past projects.
› View Special Photo Edition
Multimedia
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Aircraft Imagery
Photos, video and graphics of Dryden aircraft