Space Projects
Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, supports NASA’s Human Exploration and Space Technology missions by exploring space beyond low-Earth orbit and developing and demonstrating revolutionary, high-payoff technologies.
Branch Chief (Acting)
Patricia Ortiz
Flight Opportunities Program Manager
Gregory Peters
NASA Armstrong Contributions Propel Artemis, Deep Space Innovation
NASA is leveraging expertise, capabilities, and partnerships across its centers to make Artemis campaign and deep space exploration safer, more…
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Armstrong Artemis Contributions
Flight Opportunities
Rapidly demonstrating technologies for space exploration, discovery, and expansion of space commerce.
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Space Projects News
Stay up-to-date with the latest news from Armstrong's as we break down barriers and accelerate change for the benefit of humanity.
As the supercooled propellant flowed into the core stage, and NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket roared to life, Allison…
NASA’s Artemis II mission sent four astronauts around the Moon and brought them safely back to Earth, laying a foundation…
Seven weeks after the Orion spacecraft returned four astronauts from humanity’s first crewed journey around the Moon since Apollo, Artemis II Orion Vehicle Manager Branelle Rodriguez reflected on the mission’s…
Listen to this audio excerpt from Tim Goddard, NASA open water lead: At the end of their mission around the…
Editor’s note: This article was updated May 15, 2026, to add clarification to the spacer design. NASA is moving quickly…
To support long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, NASA and industry are developing technologies that can extract resources such…
Lander Simulation Testing Helps Advance NASA Navigation Technology
How do you test lunar lander technology on Earth before going to the Moon? NASA uses commercial flight providers like Masten Space Systems vertical takeoff vertical landing rocket, Xodiac, to validate it during a recent flight in Mojave, California.
The flight test simulates some of the maneuvers of a lunar lander. Designed for precision landing in a very tightly defined area, the Navigation Doppler Lidar technology transmits laser beams to the ground that bounce back to a sensor, providing information about the lander’s velocity and distance to the ground. Unlike Earth where GPS satellites are used to navigate, NASA needs new technology to explore the Moon and other planets so a precision landing technology could open possibilities to land anywhere even near a crater.
