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A series of biology experiments, called BioNutrients, is testing ways to use microorganisms to produce nutrients – off Earth and on demand – that will be critical for human health in space.

For the BioNutrients-1 experiment, the specially engineered yeast and its powdered food source are held in the container at the left. Its lid holds a membrane that allows carbon dioxide from the yeast to escape. The clear tube at right protects another filter system leading into the compartment with the microorganisms. To activate the yeast and begin the experiment, astronauts on board the space station will inject water through the filter, making it sterile. The water will dissolve the nutrient powder and the yeast will grow and multiply in this liquid environment, producing an important nutrient for human health.NASA/Dominic Hart

Editor’s note: This article was updated on Aug. 19, 2025, to clarify which BioNutrients experiments in the series are completed and adds new information about the upcoming experiment, BioNutrients-3.

In the future, NASA’s long-duration human exploration missions to the Moon and Mars will require minimizing the amounts of supplies launched, increasing reuse and recycling, and using local resources to make crucial products for crew during spaceflight. Certain supplies, such as vitamins, have a limited shelf life and are most effective freshly made. To meet these needs, NASA is developing technologies to biomanufacture valuable products on-demand.

Sailors might have avoided scurvy if NASA had been around in the age of exploration on the high seas. The condition is caused by a vitamin C deficiency, and many people died from spending months at sea without fresh fruits and vegetables. In the age of exploration into deep space, astronauts, too, will need a way to get the right nutrition. Planning new ways to supply food for a multi-year mission on the Moon or Mars may require making food and nutrients in space. NASA scientists are testing an early version of a potential solution: get microorganisms to produce vital nutrients so that, whenever they’re needed, astronauts can drink them down. The same kind of system designed for space also could help provide nutrition for people in remote areas of our planet.

Microbial Nutrient Factories

With an experiment called BioNutrients-1 – the first of a series of studies, that was launched to the International Space Station in April 2019 – astronauts aboard the orbiting lab helped test a new system over the course of nearly six years. BioNutrients-1 was developed by scientists at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley using this strategy: take a safe organism already present in our food (in this case, baker’s yeast), modify it so that it produces an essential nutrient, and build the right hardware to let astronauts grow the yeast in space. Like tiny living factories, the microorganisms will go about making the desired product. The nutrients that the yeast will produce in this experiment are called beta carotene and zeaxanthin. These are antioxidants usually found in vegetables, and they’re critical for keeping our eyes healthy.

Although astronauts on the space station did not consume anything for the BioNutrients-1 experiment, they conducted multiple rounds of tests on the system. For each test, they added sterile water to a mixture of dehydrated yeast and its powdered food source, mixed well and kept the packets warm for 48 hours. Then, they froze the samples to be analyzed later, back on Earth. NASA scientists checked how the system performed, including how much yeast grew in the packets and how much nutrient the experiment produced.

The microorganisms at the heart of the BioNutrients-1 experiment and their powdered food source (shown here) are loaded into the hardware for spaceflight using sterile techniques. Astronauts on the International Space Station will help test the BioNutrients system’s ability to use yeast cells as tiny factories to produce essential nutrients for human health.NASA/Dominic Hart Essential (Nutrients) for Exploration

An on-demand nutrient production system like this will be vital for human exploration, because it may not be possible to provide complete nutrition from stored foods during a multi-year mission. What’s more, even with a supply of nutritional supplements, many nutrients have a limited shelf life. Some things, like vitamins, also work better in their fresh form than in a processed tablet.

Space station crew members performed tests on different yeast types, periodically, over the course of the BioNutrients-1 experiment. This allowed scientists to check how long their specially engineered yeast stays good on the shelf and able to churn out fresh nutrients that humans will need to stay healthy in space.

NASA researchers John Hogan (left) and Kevin Sims (right) at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley apply labels and inspect assembled nutrient production packs prior to the launch of BioNutrients-1 to the International Space Station. The tiny labels require precise alignment: the markings on them will help the crew know if they need to tighten the lid before rehydrating the microorganisms inside, ensuring they grow in sterile conditions.NASA/Dominic Hart

The BioNutrients-1 system tested two types of yeast with different “lifestyles” in the nutrient-production packets. One makes spores as part of its lifecycle. Spores are a dormant form of microorganisms that are highly stable and radiation tolerant. The microorganisms must maintain viability when stored for long durations – potentially in the high-radiation deep space environment – so spores are likely the optimal form for storage. Yeast in this form should stay stable for at least five years, thereby providing a reasonable “shelf life” for use during long-term human exploration missions on the Moon or to the surface of Mars.

The other yeast species does not form spores; they flew as vegetative – or metabolically active – cells, which are expected to have a shorter shelf life than spores. However, scientists are interested in this type for other reasons. People are widely consuming this same yeast in the form of commercially available probiotic supplements. More yeast species, of this same “active” type, are available to scientists for potential use in future nutrient production systems, so understanding how they work could be important for the research.

As an additional part of the BioNutrients-1 investigation, the researchers studied the shelf life of other types of microorganisms – different from the two types of yeast tested in the production packs – to track how well the various organisms function during the planned five-year span in space, and what genetic features allow them to survive for the long haul. Samples of these specially prepared biomanufacturing and probiotic microorganisms were stored on the station and periodically returned to Earth for analysis. As of May 2025, some of the returned samples still show viability beyond five years.

Researchers Natalie Ball (left) and Hiromi Kagawa (right) at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley assemble the BioNutrients-1 hardware in preparation for an experiment aboard the International Space Station. Kagawa is attaching a one-way valve that will be connected to a filter. When astronaut crew members inject water into the hardware through this filter, it will be sterilized before rehydrating the experiment’s microorganisms and allowing them to grow.NASA/Dominic Hart BioNutrients-2

The BioNutrients-2 investigation launched to the space station in November 2022. This phase of the study built on early results from BioNutrients-1 and incorporated several new features. The overall goal was to test an on-demand system to produce specific amounts of key nutrients using minimal equipment.

BioNutrients-2 broadened the types of microorganism being tested. It used the same two yeast strains used in BioNutrients-1 and added four new types. This includes two microorganisms that produce yogurt, one that produces a fermented milk product known as kefir, and another type of yeast specially prepared to produce follistatin, a protein linked to maintaining muscle mass.

The entire range of microorganism types were tested in BioNutrients-2’s new hardware. The system uses lightweight, flexible bags – a form factor comparable to existing crew food products – rather than the rigid containers being tested for BioNutrients-1. This change reduced the mass and the volume of the system, offering advantages for long duration spaceflight when volume and mass are limited.

Two experiment runs were performed for each sample type: the first in January 2023, approximately 45-60 days after launch, and the second in May 2023, approximately six months after launch. During each run a crew member aboard the space station retrieved four bags of a given sample type, added water, agitated the bags to mix the contents, and placed the bags in an incubator to promote growth. At the end of the run, the crew removed the bags from the incubator and froze them. The bags were later returned to Earth, still frozen, for analysis.

View of the BioNutrients-3 packs containing growth media, engineered yeast, and water. These include a color-changing indicator that naturally occurs in red cabbage and allows a way to visually track fermentation progress. As the yogurt and kefir cultures ferment, the level of acid rises and the color seen in the mix changes from purple to pink. Here, a bag containing a purple-colored mix (left) is seen before growth, Another bag shows the pink colored mix after growth (right.) The board behind the bags provides a reference for the starting and ending colors.NASA/ Brandon Torres BioNutrients-3

The BioNutrients-3 investigation is planned to launch to the space station in August 2025 aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-33 mission. This experiment builds on results from the BioNutrients-1 and BioNutrients-2 investigations and incorporates new food safety features.

This project aims to develop a platform biomanufacturing technology that demonstrates microbial production of targeted nutrients for long-duration space missions. The concept is similar to making familiar fermented foods, such as how milk – transformed by bacteria – becomes yogurt. But in this case, there is a focus on the production of very specific quantities and qualities of nutritious products using substantially less time and infrastructure than traditional crop-based production methods.

BioNutrients-3 uses production bags similar to BioNutrients-2, but larger in size to accommodate an increased sample volume needed for food safety testing. This study includes the same commercial yogurt and kefir starters used in BioNutrients-2 and adds yeast strains that have been bioengineered to produce multiple nutrients in a single bag.

Additionally, for BioNutrients-3, the growth substrate – the ingredients needed to sustain the microorganisms as they grow, including a color-changing indicator of the level of acidity in yogurt and kefir samples – is fully edible. Although crew will not be consuming BioNutrients-3 samples, eventually such products may be consumed by crew in future investigations.

This color-changing indicator of acidity naturally occurs in red cabbage. The indicator allows a way to visually track fermentation progress. As the yogurt and kefir cultures ferment, the level of acid rises, and the color seen in the mix changes from purple to pink.

As in previous BioNutrients experiments, station crew will add water to each production bag and agitate the bags to mix the contents. Crew will visually compare yogurt and kefir samples to a color reference scale before placing the bags into an incubator. Depending on the sample type, the incubation duration ranges from six to 48 hours with intermediate visual inspections and/or agitation time points.

After crew remove the bags from the incubator, they will perform additional steps on some of the samples including pasteurization to kill microorganisms in the sample using the space station galley’s food warmer and a demonstration of the feasibility of using a NASA sensor called “electronic nose” – E-Nose, for short. The sensor simulates an ultra-sensitive nose and can be used to detect pathogens. Additionally, crew will test a technique for culturing yogurt by using a bit of yogurt from a finished bag to seed a new batch, much like maintaining a sourdough bread starter.

After conclusion of operations, all samples will be frozen and returned to Earth for analysis.

Making Molecules and Medicines in Remote Places

This technology NASA is developing for future astronauts could also be used by people living in remote areas on Earth today. Results from the study will tell NASA scientists a lot about how to produce other molecules that will be critical for human health in space, including medicines for treating various ailments. Promising research is under way now to use microbes in a range of space applications. By developing microorganisms that can withstand long periods of inactivity and be revived successfully, BioNutrients is taking steps toward making that future a reality.

Milestones:​ BioNutrients-1​

• April 2019 – The BioNutrients-1 experiment launched to the space station aboard NASA’s Northrop Grumman 11th commercial resupply services (CRS-11) mission 
• June 2019 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-17 mission.  
• June 2019 – The first experiment run of BioNutrients-1 packs in space was completed by Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques. 
• August 2019 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-18 mission. 
• January 2020 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-19 mission. 
• January 2020 – The second experiment run of BioNutrients-1 packs in space was completed by NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan. 
• April 2020 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-20 mission. 
• January 2021 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-21 mission. 
• January 2021 – The third experiment run of BioNutrients-1 packs in space was completed by NASA astronaut Shannon Walker. 
• July 2021 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-22 mission. 
• January 2022 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-24 mission. 
• February 2022 – The fourth experiment run of BioNutrients-1 packs in space was completed by NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn. 
• August 2022 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-25 mission. 
• January 2023 – The fifth experiment run of BioNutrients-1 packs in space was completed by JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata. 
• January 2023 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-26 mission. 
• March 2023 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission. 
• June 2023 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-28 mission. 
• December 2023 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-29 mission.
• January 2024 – The sixth experiment run of BioNutrients-1 packs in space was completed by JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa.
• February 2025 – The seventh experiment run of BioNutrients-1 packs in space was completed by NASA astronaut Suni Williams.

BioNutrients-2

• November 2022 – The BioNutrients-2 experiment launched to the station aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-26 mission. 
• January 2023 – The first experiment run of BioNutrients-2 was completed by NASA astronauts Nicole Mann, Josh Cassada, and Frank Rubio.
• January 2023 – BioNutrients-2 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-26 mission. 
• April 2023 – BioNutrients-2 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-27 mission. 
• May 2023 – The second experiment run of BioNutrients-2 was completed by NASA astronaut Warren Hoburg and UAE astronaut Sultan Alneyadi.
• June 2023 – BioNutrients-2 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-28 mission. 

Partners:

BioNutrients was developed by NASA Ames. The Game Changing Development program within NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate manages the project, which is part of a larger synthetic biology portfolio. Additional support is provided by Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate as part of Exploration Capabilities. The project was previously funded by NASA’s Advanced Exploration Systems program within the Human Exploration Operations Mission Directorate.

Learn more:

• NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Mission Gears Up for Space Station Research (NASA story, July 2025)
• NASA Continues BioNutrients Space-Fermented Food Research (NASA featured image, March 2025)
• BioNutrients: A Five-Year Experiment in Space Nears Completion (NASA story, January 2024)
• JAXA Astronaut Koichi Wakata Performs BioNutrients-1 Run 5 (NASA Image Library, January 2023)
• Astronaut Josh Cassada works on the BioNutrients-2 investigation (NASA featured image, January 2023)
• Astronaut Nicole Mann works on the BioNutrients-2 investigation (NASA featured image, January 2023)
• Cutting-edge Experiments Ride SpaceX’s 26th CRS Mission to Space Station (NASA story, November 2022)
• A Fresh Take: NASA BioNutrients for Future Artemis Missions (NASA featured image, March 2022)
• NASA Astronaut Shannon Walker Performs BioNutrients-1 Run 3 (NASA Image Library, January 2021)
• A Space Traveler’s Recipe for Sweet Potato Pie? (NASA featured image, November 2019)

For researchers:

• BioNutrients-1 – International Space Station technical mission page
• BioNutrients-1 – Technical experiment page, NASA Ames Space Biosciences division
• BioNutrients-2 – International Space Station technical mission page
• BioNutrients-3 – International Space Station technical mission page
• Space Synthetic Biology (SynBio) project, technical page

For news media: 

Members of the news media interested in covering this topic should reach out to the NASA Ames newsroom.

A series of biology experiments, called BioNutrients, is testing ways to use microorganisms to produce nutrients – off Earth and on demand – that will be critical for human health in space.

For the BioNutrients-1 experiment, the specially engineered yeast and its powdered food source are held in the container at the left. Its lid holds a membrane that allows carbon dioxide from the yeast to escape. The clear tube at right protects another filter system leading into the compartment with the microorganisms. To activate the yeast and begin the experiment, astronauts on board the space station will inject water through the filter, making it sterile. The water will dissolve the nutrient powder and the yeast will grow and multiply in this liquid environment, producing an important nutrient for human health.NASA/Dominic Hart

Editor’s note: This article was updated on Aug. 19, 2025, to clarify which BioNutrients experiments in the series are completed and adds new information about the upcoming experiment, BioNutrients-3.

In the future, NASA’s long-duration human exploration missions to the Moon and Mars will require minimizing the amounts of supplies launched, increasing reuse and recycling, and using local resources to make crucial products for crew during spaceflight. Certain supplies, such as vitamins, have a limited shelf life and are most effective freshly made. To meet these needs, NASA is developing technologies to biomanufacture valuable products on-demand.

Sailors might have avoided scurvy if NASA had been around in the age of exploration on the high seas. The condition is caused by a vitamin C deficiency, and many people died from spending months at sea without fresh fruits and vegetables. In the age of exploration into deep space, astronauts, too, will need a way to get the right nutrition. Planning new ways to supply food for a multi-year mission on the Moon or Mars may require making food and nutrients in space. NASA scientists are testing an early version of a potential solution: get microorganisms to produce vital nutrients so that, whenever they’re needed, astronauts can drink them down. The same kind of system designed for space also could help provide nutrition for people in remote areas of our planet.

Microbial Nutrient Factories

With an experiment called BioNutrients-1 – the first of a series of studies, that was launched to the International Space Station in April 2019 – astronauts aboard the orbiting lab helped test a new system over the course of nearly six years. BioNutrients-1 was developed by scientists at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley using this strategy: take a safe organism already present in our food (in this case, baker’s yeast), modify it so that it produces an essential nutrient, and build the right hardware to let astronauts grow the yeast in space. Like tiny living factories, the microorganisms will go about making the desired product. The nutrients that the yeast will produce in this experiment are called beta carotene and zeaxanthin. These are antioxidants usually found in vegetables, and they’re critical for keeping our eyes healthy.

Although astronauts on the space station did not consume anything for the BioNutrients-1 experiment, they conducted multiple rounds of tests on the system. For each test, they added sterile water to a mixture of dehydrated yeast and its powdered food source, mixed well and kept the packets warm for 48 hours. Then, they froze the samples to be analyzed later, back on Earth. NASA scientists checked how the system performed, including how much yeast grew in the packets and how much nutrient the experiment produced.

The microorganisms at the heart of the BioNutrients-1 experiment and their powdered food source (shown here) are loaded into the hardware for spaceflight using sterile techniques. Astronauts on the International Space Station will help test the BioNutrients system’s ability to use yeast cells as tiny factories to produce essential nutrients for human health.NASA/Dominic Hart Essential (Nutrients) for Exploration

An on-demand nutrient production system like this will be vital for human exploration, because it may not be possible to provide complete nutrition from stored foods during a multi-year mission. What’s more, even with a supply of nutritional supplements, many nutrients have a limited shelf life. Some things, like vitamins, also work better in their fresh form than in a processed tablet.

Space station crew members performed tests on different yeast types, periodically, over the course of the BioNutrients-1 experiment. This allowed scientists to check how long their specially engineered yeast stays good on the shelf and able to churn out fresh nutrients that humans will need to stay healthy in space.

NASA researchers John Hogan (left) and Kevin Sims (right) at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley apply labels and inspect assembled nutrient production packs prior to the launch of BioNutrients-1 to the International Space Station. The tiny labels require precise alignment: the markings on them will help the crew know if they need to tighten the lid before rehydrating the microorganisms inside, ensuring they grow in sterile conditions.NASA/Dominic Hart

The BioNutrients-1 system tested two types of yeast with different “lifestyles” in the nutrient-production packets. One makes spores as part of its lifecycle. Spores are a dormant form of microorganisms that are highly stable and radiation tolerant. The microorganisms must maintain viability when stored for long durations – potentially in the high-radiation deep space environment – so spores are likely the optimal form for storage. Yeast in this form should stay stable for at least five years, thereby providing a reasonable “shelf life” for use during long-term human exploration missions on the Moon or to the surface of Mars.

The other yeast species does not form spores; they flew as vegetative – or metabolically active – cells, which are expected to have a shorter shelf life than spores. However, scientists are interested in this type for other reasons. People are widely consuming this same yeast in the form of commercially available probiotic supplements. More yeast species, of this same “active” type, are available to scientists for potential use in future nutrient production systems, so understanding how they work could be important for the research.

As an additional part of the BioNutrients-1 investigation, the researchers studied the shelf life of other types of microorganisms – different from the two types of yeast tested in the production packs – to track how well the various organisms function during the planned five-year span in space, and what genetic features allow them to survive for the long haul. Samples of these specially prepared biomanufacturing and probiotic microorganisms were stored on the station and periodically returned to Earth for analysis. As of May 2025, some of the returned samples still show viability beyond five years.

Researchers Natalie Ball (left) and Hiromi Kagawa (right) at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley assemble the BioNutrients-1 hardware in preparation for an experiment aboard the International Space Station. Kagawa is attaching a one-way valve that will be connected to a filter. When astronaut crew members inject water into the hardware through this filter, it will be sterilized before rehydrating the experiment’s microorganisms and allowing them to grow.NASA/Dominic Hart BioNutrients-2

The BioNutrients-2 investigation launched to the space station in November 2022. This phase of the study built on early results from BioNutrients-1 and incorporated several new features. The overall goal was to test an on-demand system to produce specific amounts of key nutrients using minimal equipment.

BioNutrients-2 broadened the types of microorganism being tested. It used the same two yeast strains used in BioNutrients-1 and added four new types. This includes two microorganisms that produce yogurt, one that produces a fermented milk product known as kefir, and another type of yeast specially prepared to produce follistatin, a protein linked to maintaining muscle mass.

The entire range of microorganism types were tested in BioNutrients-2’s new hardware. The system uses lightweight, flexible bags – a form factor comparable to existing crew food products – rather than the rigid containers being tested for BioNutrients-1. This change reduced the mass and the volume of the system, offering advantages for long duration spaceflight when volume and mass are limited.

Two experiment runs were performed for each sample type: the first in January 2023, approximately 45-60 days after launch, and the second in May 2023, approximately six months after launch. During each run a crew member aboard the space station retrieved four bags of a given sample type, added water, agitated the bags to mix the contents, and placed the bags in an incubator to promote growth. At the end of the run, the crew removed the bags from the incubator and froze them. The bags were later returned to Earth, still frozen, for analysis.

View of the BioNutrients-3 packs containing growth media, engineered yeast, and water. These include a color-changing indicator that naturally occurs in red cabbage and allows a way to visually track fermentation progress. As the yogurt and kefir cultures ferment, the level of acid rises and the color seen in the mix changes from purple to pink. Here, a bag containing a purple-colored mix (left) is seen before growth, Another bag shows the pink colored mix after growth (right.) The board behind the bags provides a reference for the starting and ending colors.NASA/ Brandon Torres BioNutrients-3

The BioNutrients-3 investigation is planned to launch to the space station in August 2025 aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-33 mission. This experiment builds on results from the BioNutrients-1 and BioNutrients-2 investigations and incorporates new food safety features.

This project aims to develop a platform biomanufacturing technology that demonstrates microbial production of targeted nutrients for long-duration space missions. The concept is similar to making familiar fermented foods, such as how milk – transformed by bacteria – becomes yogurt. But in this case, there is a focus on the production of very specific quantities and qualities of nutritious products using substantially less time and infrastructure than traditional crop-based production methods.

BioNutrients-3 uses production bags similar to BioNutrients-2, but larger in size to accommodate an increased sample volume needed for food safety testing. This study includes the same commercial yogurt and kefir starters used in BioNutrients-2 and adds yeast strains that have been bioengineered to produce multiple nutrients in a single bag.

Additionally, for BioNutrients-3, the growth substrate – the ingredients needed to sustain the microorganisms as they grow, including a color-changing indicator of the level of acidity in yogurt and kefir samples – is fully edible. Although crew will not be consuming BioNutrients-3 samples, eventually such products may be consumed by crew in future investigations.

This color-changing indicator of acidity naturally occurs in red cabbage. The indicator allows a way to visually track fermentation progress. As the yogurt and kefir cultures ferment, the level of acid rises, and the color seen in the mix changes from purple to pink.

As in previous BioNutrients experiments, station crew will add water to each production bag and agitate the bags to mix the contents. Crew will visually compare yogurt and kefir samples to a color reference scale before placing the bags into an incubator. Depending on the sample type, the incubation duration ranges from six to 48 hours with intermediate visual inspections and/or agitation time points.

After crew remove the bags from the incubator, they will perform additional steps on some of the samples including pasteurization to kill microorganisms in the sample using the space station galley’s food warmer and a demonstration of the feasibility of using a NASA sensor called “electronic nose” – E-Nose, for short. The sensor simulates an ultra-sensitive nose and can be used to detect pathogens. Additionally, crew will test a technique for culturing yogurt by using a bit of yogurt from a finished bag to seed a new batch, much like maintaining a sourdough bread starter.

After conclusion of operations, all samples will be frozen and returned to Earth for analysis.

Making Molecules and Medicines in Remote Places

This technology NASA is developing for future astronauts could also be used by people living in remote areas on Earth today. Results from the study will tell NASA scientists a lot about how to produce other molecules that will be critical for human health in space, including medicines for treating various ailments. Promising research is under way now to use microbes in a range of space applications. By developing microorganisms that can withstand long periods of inactivity and be revived successfully, BioNutrients is taking steps toward making that future a reality.

Milestones:​ BioNutrients-1​

• April 2019 – The BioNutrients-1 experiment launched to the space station aboard NASA’s Northrop Grumman 11th commercial resupply services (CRS-11) mission 
• June 2019 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-17 mission.  
• June 2019 – The first experiment run of BioNutrients-1 packs in space was completed by Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques. 
• August 2019 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-18 mission. 
• January 2020 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-19 mission. 
• January 2020 – The second experiment run of BioNutrients-1 packs in space was completed by NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan. 
• April 2020 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-20 mission. 
• January 2021 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-21 mission. 
• January 2021 – The third experiment run of BioNutrients-1 packs in space was completed by NASA astronaut Shannon Walker. 
• July 2021 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-22 mission. 
• January 2022 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-24 mission. 
• February 2022 – The fourth experiment run of BioNutrients-1 packs in space was completed by NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn. 
• August 2022 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-25 mission. 
• January 2023 – The fifth experiment run of BioNutrients-1 packs in space was completed by JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata. 
• January 2023 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-26 mission. 
• March 2023 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission. 
• June 2023 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-28 mission. 
• December 2023 – BioNutrients-1 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-29 mission.
• January 2024 – The sixth experiment run of BioNutrients-1 packs in space was completed by JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa.
• February 2025 – The seventh experiment run of BioNutrients-1 packs in space was completed by NASA astronaut Suni Williams.

BioNutrients-2

• November 2022 – The BioNutrients-2 experiment launched to the station aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-26 mission. 
• January 2023 – The first experiment run of BioNutrients-2 was completed by NASA astronauts Nicole Mann, Josh Cassada, and Frank Rubio.
• January 2023 – BioNutrients-2 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-26 mission. 
• April 2023 – BioNutrients-2 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-27 mission. 
• May 2023 – The second experiment run of BioNutrients-2 was completed by NASA astronaut Warren Hoburg and UAE astronaut Sultan Alneyadi.
• June 2023 – BioNutrients-2 samples returned to Earth aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-28 mission. 

Partners:

BioNutrients was developed by NASA Ames. The Game Changing Development program within NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate manages the project, which is part of a larger synthetic biology portfolio. Additional support is provided by Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate as part of Exploration Capabilities. The project was previously funded by NASA’s Advanced Exploration Systems program within the Human Exploration Operations Mission Directorate.

Learn more:

• NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Mission Gears Up for Space Station Research (NASA story, July 2025)
• NASA Continues BioNutrients Space-Fermented Food Research (NASA featured image, March 2025)
• BioNutrients: A Five-Year Experiment in Space Nears Completion (NASA story, January 2024)
• JAXA Astronaut Koichi Wakata Performs BioNutrients-1 Run 5 (NASA Image Library, January 2023)
• Astronaut Josh Cassada works on the BioNutrients-2 investigation (NASA featured image, January 2023)
• Astronaut Nicole Mann works on the BioNutrients-2 investigation (NASA featured image, January 2023)
• Cutting-edge Experiments Ride SpaceX’s 26th CRS Mission to Space Station (NASA story, November 2022)
• A Fresh Take: NASA BioNutrients for Future Artemis Missions (NASA featured image, March 2022)
• NASA Astronaut Shannon Walker Performs BioNutrients-1 Run 3 (NASA Image Library, January 2021)
• A Space Traveler’s Recipe for Sweet Potato Pie? (NASA featured image, November 2019)

For researchers:

• BioNutrients-1 – International Space Station technical mission page
• BioNutrients-1 – Technical experiment page, NASA Ames Space Biosciences division
• BioNutrients-2 – International Space Station technical mission page
• BioNutrients-3 – International Space Station technical mission page
• Space Synthetic Biology (SynBio) project, technical page

For news media: 

Members of the news media interested in covering this topic should reach out to the NASA Ames newsroom.

4 min read

Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA’s Psyche captured images of Earth and our Moon from about 180 million miles (290 kilometers) away in July 2025, as it calibrated its imager instrument. When choosing targets for the imager testing, scientists look for bodies that shine with reflected sunlight, just as the asteroid Psyche does.NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

Headed for a metal-rich asteroid of the same name, the Psyche spacecraft successfully calibrated its cameras by looking homeward.

On schedule for its 2029 arrival at the asteroid Psyche, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft recently looked back toward home and captured images of Earth and our Moon from about 180 million miles (290 million kilometers) away. The images were obtained during one of the mission team’s periodic checkouts of the spacecraft’s science instruments.

On July 20 and July 23, the spacecraft’s twin cameras captured multiple long-exposure (up to 10-second) pictures of the two bodies, which appear as dots sparkling with reflected sunlight amid a starfield in the constellation Aries.

Learn more about the multispectral imager aboard Psyche that will use a pair of identical cameras with filters and telescopic lenses to photograph the surface of the asteroid in different wavelengths of light. NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

The Psyche multispectral imager instrument comprises a pair of identical cameras equipped with filters and telescopic lenses to photograph the asteroid Psyche’s surface in different wavelengths of light. The color and shape of a planetary body’s spectrum can reveal details about what it’s made of. The Moon and the giant asteroid Vesta, for example, have similar kinds of “bumps and wiggles” in their spectra that scientists could potentially also detect at Psyche. Members of the mission’s science team are interested in Psyche because it will help them better understand the formation of rocky planets with metallic cores, including Earth.

When choosing targets for the imager testing and calibration, scientists look for bodies that shine with reflected sunlight, just as the asteroid Psyche does. They also look at objects that have a spectrum they’re familiar with, so they can compare previous telescopic or spacecraft data from those objects with what Psyche’s instruments observe. Earlier this year, Psyche turned its lenses toward Jupiter and Mars for calibration — each has a spectrum more reddish than the bluer tones of Earth. That checkout also proved a success.

The Psyche spacecraft is taking a spiral path around the solar system in order to get a boost from a Mars gravity assist in 2026. It will arrive at the asteroid Psyche in 2029. NASA/JPL-Caltech

To determine whether the imager’s performance is changing, scientists also compare data from the different tests. That way, when the spacecraft slips into orbit around Psyche, scientists can be sure that the instrument behaves as expected.

“After this, we may look at Saturn or Vesta to help us continue to test the imagers,” said Jim Bell, the Psyche imager instrument lead at Arizona State University in Tempe. “We’re sort of collecting solar system ‘trading cards’ from these different bodies and running them through our calibration pipeline to make sure we’re getting the right answers.”

Strong and Sturdy

The imager wasn’t the only instrument that got a successful checkout in late July: The mission team also put the spacecraft’s magnetometer and the gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer through a gamut of tests — something they do every six months.

“We are up and running, and everything is working well,” said Bob Mase, the mission’s project manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “We’re on target to fly by Mars in May 2026, and we are accomplishing all of our planned activities for cruise.”

That flyby is the spacecraft’s next big milestone, when it will use the Red Planet’s gravity as a slingshot to help the spacecraft get to the asteroid Psyche. That will mark Psyche’s first of two planned loops around the solar system and 1 billion miles (1.6 billion kilometers) since launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in October 2023.

More About Psyche

The Psyche mission is led by ASU. Lindy Elkins-Tanton of the University of California, Berkeley is the principal investigator.A division of Caltech in Pasadena, JPL is responsible for the mission’s overall management, system engineering, integration and test, and mission operations. Maxar Technologies in Palo Alto, California, provided the high-power solar electric propulsion spacecraft chassis. ASU leads the operations of the imager instrument, working in collaboration with Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego on the design, fabrication, and testing of the cameras.

Psyche is the 14th mission selected as part of NASA’s Discovery Program, managed by the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy, managed the launch service.

For more information about NASA’s Psyche mission go to:

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/psyche/

Check out the Psyche spacecraft’s trajectory in 3D News Media Contacts

Gretchen McCartney
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-287-4115
gretchen.p.mccartney@jpl.nasa.gov 

Karen Fox / Molly Wasser
NASA Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / molly.l.wasser@nasa.gov

2025-106

Share

Details Last Updated Aug 19, 2025 Related Terms

• Psyche Mission
• Asteroids
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• The Solar System

Explore More 3 min read Summer Triangle Corner: Altair

Altair is the last stop on our trip around the Summer Triangle! The last star…

Article 4 days ago 5 min read NASA’s Apollo Samples, LRO Help Scientists Forecast Moonquakes

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4 min read

Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA’s Psyche captured images of Earth and our Moon from about 180 million miles (290 kilometers) away in July 2025, as it calibrated its imager instrument. When choosing targets for the imager testing, scientists look for bodies that shine with reflected sunlight, just as the asteroid Psyche does.NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

Headed for a metal-rich asteroid of the same name, the Psyche spacecraft successfully calibrated its cameras by looking homeward.

On schedule for its 2029 arrival at the asteroid Psyche, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft recently looked back toward home and captured images of Earth and our Moon from about 180 million miles (290 million kilometers) away. The images were obtained during one of the mission team’s periodic checkouts of the spacecraft’s science instruments.

On July 20 and July 23, the spacecraft’s twin cameras captured multiple long-exposure (up to 10-second) pictures of the two bodies, which appear as dots sparkling with reflected sunlight amid a starfield in the constellation Aries.

Learn more about the multispectral imager aboard Psyche that will use a pair of identical cameras with filters and telescopic lenses to photograph the surface of the asteroid in different wavelengths of light. NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

The Psyche multispectral imager instrument comprises a pair of identical cameras equipped with filters and telescopic lenses to photograph the asteroid Psyche’s surface in different wavelengths of light. The color and shape of a planetary body’s spectrum can reveal details about what it’s made of. The Moon and the giant asteroid Vesta, for example, have similar kinds of “bumps and wiggles” in their spectra that scientists could potentially also detect at Psyche. Members of the mission’s science team are interested in Psyche because it will help them better understand the formation of rocky planets with metallic cores, including Earth.

When choosing targets for the imager testing and calibration, scientists look for bodies that shine with reflected sunlight, just as the asteroid Psyche does. They also look at objects that have a spectrum they’re familiar with, so they can compare previous telescopic or spacecraft data from those objects with what Psyche’s instruments observe. Earlier this year, Psyche turned its lenses toward Jupiter and Mars for calibration — each has a spectrum more reddish than the bluer tones of Earth. That checkout also proved a success.

The Psyche spacecraft is taking a spiral path around the solar system in order to get a boost from a Mars gravity assist in 2026. It will arrive at the asteroid Psyche in 2029. NASA/JPL-Caltech

To determine whether the imager’s performance is changing, scientists also compare data from the different tests. That way, when the spacecraft slips into orbit around Psyche, scientists can be sure that the instrument behaves as expected.

“After this, we may look at Saturn or Vesta to help us continue to test the imagers,” said Jim Bell, the Psyche imager instrument lead at Arizona State University in Tempe. “We’re sort of collecting solar system ‘trading cards’ from these different bodies and running them through our calibration pipeline to make sure we’re getting the right answers.”

Strong and Sturdy

The imager wasn’t the only instrument that got a successful checkout in late July: The mission team also put the spacecraft’s magnetometer and the gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer through a gamut of tests — something they do every six months.

“We are up and running, and everything is working well,” said Bob Mase, the mission’s project manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “We’re on target to fly by Mars in May 2026, and we are accomplishing all of our planned activities for cruise.”

That flyby is the spacecraft’s next big milestone, when it will use the Red Planet’s gravity as a slingshot to help the spacecraft get to the asteroid Psyche. That will mark Psyche’s first of two planned loops around the solar system and 1 billion miles (1.6 billion kilometers) since launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in October 2023.

More About Psyche

The Psyche mission is led by ASU. Lindy Elkins-Tanton of the University of California, Berkeley is the principal investigator.A division of Caltech in Pasadena, JPL is responsible for the mission’s overall management, system engineering, integration and test, and mission operations. Maxar Technologies in Palo Alto, California, provided the high-power solar electric propulsion spacecraft chassis. ASU leads the operations of the imager instrument, working in collaboration with Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego on the design, fabrication, and testing of the cameras.

Psyche is the 14th mission selected as part of NASA’s Discovery Program, managed by the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy, managed the launch service.

For more information about NASA’s Psyche mission go to:

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/psyche/

Check out the Psyche spacecraft’s trajectory in 3D News Media Contacts

Gretchen McCartney
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-287-4115
gretchen.p.mccartney@jpl.nasa.gov 

Karen Fox / Molly Wasser
NASA Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / molly.l.wasser@nasa.gov

2025-106

Share

Details Last Updated Aug 19, 2025 Related Terms

• Psyche Mission
• Asteroids
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• The Solar System

Explore More 3 min read Summer Triangle Corner: Altair

Altair is the last stop on our trip around the Summer Triangle! The last star…

Article 4 days ago 5 min read NASA’s Apollo Samples, LRO Help Scientists Forecast Moonquakes

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Article 5 days ago 4 min read US-French SWOT Satellite Measures Tsunami After Massive Quake Article 2 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover Related Topics

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Climate Change

Solar System

The Moon's light is refracted by Earth's atmosphere, giving it a spheroid shape in this April 13, 2025, photograph from the International Space Station as it orbited into a sunset 264 miles above the border between Bolivia and Brazil in South America.

NASA

The Moon’s light is refracted by Earth’s atmosphere in this April 13, 2025, photograph from the International Space Station as it orbited into a sunset 264 miles above the border between Bolivia and Brazil in South America.

Understanding the Moon helps us understand other planets, how they have evolved and the processes which have shaped their surfaces. It also helps us understand the influence the Moon has had on Earth, the record of the ancient Sun, and it serves as a platform to study the rest of the universe. By using the Moon as our closest testing ground for robotics and instrument systems, we can further human exploration to not only the Moon, but the rest of the solar system.

Through Artemis missions, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.

Image credit: NASA

NASA

The Moon’s light is refracted by Earth’s atmosphere in this April 13, 2025, photograph from the International Space Station as it orbited into a sunset 264 miles above the border between Bolivia and Brazil in South America.

Understanding the Moon helps us understand other planets, how they have evolved and the processes which have shaped their surfaces. It also helps us understand the influence the Moon has had on Earth, the record of the ancient Sun, and it serves as a platform to study the rest of the universe. By using the Moon as our closest testing ground for robotics and instrument systems, we can further human exploration to not only the Moon, but the rest of the solar system.

Through Artemis missions, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.

Image credit: NASA

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft sits on the ramp at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California during sunrise, shortly after completion of painting in December 2023.Credit: NASA/Steve Freeman

As we observe National Aviation Day Tuesday – a tribute to Orville Wright’s birthday – let’s reflect on both America’s and NASA’s aviation heritage and share how we are pushing the boundaries of flight for the nation’s future. Modern NASA grew from the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), an agency created by Congress in 1915 to advance U.S. aviation. When President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, NACA was dissolved and its people, laboratories and research programs became the foundation of NASA. These intrepid men and women are the cornerstone of the world’s most capable aerospace industry and their legacy lives on today across all facets of the agency.

The most significant aviation milestones in the twentieth century were achieved through both NASA and NACA research and through the courage of pioneering test pilots. In 1947, the joint NACA/U.S. Army Air Forces (later the U.S. Air Force, or USAF) developed Bell X‑1 flew faster than the speed of sound, shattering the mythical “sound barrier.” This breakthrough, enabled by NACA wind-tunnel data and high-speed aerodynamic expertise, made supersonic flight a reality and led directly to NACA Test Pilot Scott Crossfield being the first human to reach Mach 2, twice the speed of sound, in the Douglass DD558-II a mere six years later. During the X‑15 program of the 1960s, legendary NASA Test Pilots Joe Walker, John McKay, Neil Armstrong, Milt Thompson, and Bill Dana piloted nearly half of the program’s sorties and flew the rocket-powered research plane at altitudes up to 354,200 feet and speeds of 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7).

The NASA/USAF-developed North American X‑15 became the world’s first reusable hypersonic aerospace vehicle, reaching space (above 50 miles altitude) on 11 separate missions; it provided essential data on materials, flight control and pilot physiology that helped shape the agency’s Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. These milestones remind us that our nation’s accomplishments are the result of visionary NASA, Department of Defense, industry engineers, and test pilots working together to achieve audacious goals.

NASA’s commitment to aviation innovation did not stop with early experimental high-speed aircraft. In the 1990s, the U.S. general aviation industry faced a steep decline – production fell from 18,000 aircraft in 1978 to fewer than 1,000 in 1993. NASA saw an opportunity: we envisioned a Small Aircraft Transportation System in which safe, efficient general aviation planes could revitalize a critical industry. To enable that vision, NASA partnered with the Federal Aviation Administration, industry, universities, and non‑profits to create the Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments (AGATE) consortium in 1994. The AGATE consortium developed safer cockpit displays, crashworthiness improvements, efficient airfoils, and modern manufacturing techniques. These innovations transformed U.S. general aviation, helping spawn industry successes like the Cirrus SR20 and SR22 family of aircraft, which incorporate NASA-derived composite structures and safety features.

In 2004, NASA’s unmanned X‑43A Hyper-X broke world speed records for air‑breathing aircraft, flying at Mach 6.8 and later Mach 9.6. Those flights demonstrated practical scramjet propulsion and proved that hypersonic cruise flight is achievable.

Today, we are building on this legacy and pushing the envelope with the X-59. Later this year, NASA Test Pilot Nils Larson will usher in a new era of quiet supersonic flight when he pilots the X‑59 Quesst’s first flight out of NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The experimental aircraft, designed to fly at 1.4 times the speed of sound while producing only a gentle sonic “thump” instead of the traditional loud sonic boom, will provide data vital to achieving the vision in President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order “Leading the World in Supersonic Flight.”

Hypersonics research is another pillar to our 21st‑century vision. Lessons from the X‑15, X‑43, and Space Shuttle inform our study of high-temperature materials, flight controls and propulsion. These technologies will not only bolster national security but will also spur the development of ultrafast civil transports, shrinking the world even further. We are also investing in 21st century propulsion, additive manufacturing, and autonomy for light aircraft while also developing advanced air traffic control systems. Partnering with U.S. aerospace industry and the FAA, we will bring true 21st century technology into light general aviation aircraft, ensuring America remains at the forefront of aviation innovation.

I am continually inspired by the ingenuity of our past and the promise of our future. Our roots in NACA remind us that a small group of dedicated men and women can change the world. From the Wright brothers’ pioneering work to the supersonic and hypersonic records set by NASA pilots and vehicles, we have consistently expanded the boundaries of what is possible in flight. Looking ahead, our pursuit of quiet supersonic aircraft, hypersonic technologies, and revitalized general aviation will keep the U.S. aviation industry strong and sustainable for decades to come. On National Aviation Day, we celebrate not only our history but also the teamwork and vision that will carry us into the next century of flight.

Higher, Farther, Faster!

Todd C. Ericson is a senior advisor to the NASA administrator for aerospace research and development

Share

Details Last Updated Aug 19, 2025 EditorJennifer M. Dooren Related Terms

• Aeronautics
• Flight Innovation
• NASA Aircraft
• Supersonic Flight

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft sits on the ramp at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, California during sunrise, shortly after completion of painting in December 2023.Credit: NASA/Steve Freeman

As we observe National Aviation Day Tuesday – a tribute to Orville Wright’s birthday – let’s reflect on both America’s and NASA’s aviation heritage and share how we are pushing the boundaries of flight for the nation’s future. Modern NASA grew from the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), an agency created by Congress in 1915 to advance U.S. aviation. When President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, NACA was dissolved and its people, laboratories and research programs became the foundation of NASA. These intrepid men and women are the cornerstone of the world’s most capable aerospace industry and their legacy lives on today across all facets of the agency.

The most significant aviation milestones in the twentieth century were achieved through both NASA and NACA research and through the courage of pioneering test pilots. In 1947, the joint NACA/U.S. Army Air Forces (later the U.S. Air Force, or USAF) developed Bell X‑1 flew faster than the speed of sound, shattering the mythical “sound barrier.” This breakthrough, enabled by NACA wind-tunnel data and high-speed aerodynamic expertise, made supersonic flight a reality and led directly to NACA Test Pilot Scott Crossfield being the first human to reach Mach 2, twice the speed of sound, in the Douglass DD558-II a mere six years later. During the X‑15 program of the 1960s, legendary NASA Test Pilots Joe Walker, John McKay, Neil Armstrong, Milt Thompson, and Bill Dana piloted nearly half of the program’s sorties and flew the rocket-powered research plane at altitudes up to 354,200 feet and speeds of 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7).

The NASA/USAF-developed North American X‑15 became the world’s first reusable hypersonic aerospace vehicle, reaching space (above 50 miles altitude) on 11 separate missions; it provided essential data on materials, flight control and pilot physiology that helped shape the agency’s Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. These milestones remind us that our nation’s accomplishments are the result of visionary NASA, Department of Defense, industry engineers, and test pilots working together to achieve audacious goals.

NASA’s commitment to aviation innovation did not stop with early experimental high-speed aircraft. In the 1990s, the U.S. general aviation industry faced a steep decline – production fell from 18,000 aircraft in 1978 to fewer than 1,000 in 1993. NASA saw an opportunity: we envisioned a Small Aircraft Transportation System in which safe, efficient general aviation planes could revitalize a critical industry. To enable that vision, NASA partnered with the Federal Aviation Administration, industry, universities, and non‑profits to create the Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments (AGATE) consortium in 1994. The AGATE consortium developed safer cockpit displays, crashworthiness improvements, efficient airfoils, and modern manufacturing techniques. These innovations transformed U.S. general aviation, helping spawn industry successes like the Cirrus SR20 and SR22 family of aircraft, which incorporate NASA-derived composite structures and safety features.

In 2004, NASA’s unmanned X‑43A Hyper-X broke world speed records for air‑breathing aircraft, flying at Mach 6.8 and later Mach 9.6. Those flights demonstrated practical scramjet propulsion and proved that hypersonic cruise flight is achievable.

Today, we are building on this legacy and pushing the envelope with the X-59. Later this year, NASA Test Pilot Nils Larson will usher in a new era of quiet supersonic flight when he pilots the X‑59 Quesst’s first flight out of NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The experimental aircraft, designed to fly at 1.4 times the speed of sound while producing only a gentle sonic “thump” instead of the traditional loud sonic boom, will provide data vital to achieving the vision in President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order “Leading the World in Supersonic Flight.”

Hypersonics research is another pillar to our 21st‑century vision. Lessons from the X‑15, X‑43, and Space Shuttle inform our study of high-temperature materials, flight controls and propulsion. These technologies will not only bolster national security but will also spur the development of ultrafast civil transports, shrinking the world even further. We are also investing in 21st century propulsion, additive manufacturing, and autonomy for light aircraft while also developing advanced air traffic control systems. Partnering with U.S. aerospace industry and the FAA, we will bring true 21st century technology into light general aviation aircraft, ensuring America remains at the forefront of aviation innovation.

I am continually inspired by the ingenuity of our past and the promise of our future. Our roots in NACA remind us that a small group of dedicated men and women can change the world. From the Wright brothers’ pioneering work to the supersonic and hypersonic records set by NASA pilots and vehicles, we have consistently expanded the boundaries of what is possible in flight. Looking ahead, our pursuit of quiet supersonic aircraft, hypersonic technologies, and revitalized general aviation will keep the U.S. aviation industry strong and sustainable for decades to come. On National Aviation Day, we celebrate not only our history but also the teamwork and vision that will carry us into the next century of flight.

Higher, Farther, Faster!

Todd C. Ericson is a senior advisor to the NASA administrator for aerospace research and development

Share

Details Last Updated Aug 19, 2025 EditorJennifer M. Dooren Related Terms

• Aeronautics
• Flight Innovation
• NASA Aircraft
• Supersonic Flight

A collaboration between NASA and the small business Aloft Sensing produced a new compact radar system that will enable researchers to leverage High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) platforms to observe dynamic Earth systems. This new radar is small, provides highly sensitive measurements, and doesn’t require GPS for positioning; eventually, it could be used on vehicles in space.

HALE InSAR flies aboard a high-altitude balloon during a test-flight. This lightweight instrument will help researchers measure ground deformation and dynamic Earth systems. Credit: Aloft Sensing

Long before a volcano erupts or a mountainous snowpack disappears, millimeter-scale changes in Earth’s surface indicate larger geologic processes are at work. But detecting those minute changes, which can serve as early warnings for impending disasters, is difficult.

With support from NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO ) a team of researchers from the small aerospace company Aloft Sensing is developing a compact radar instrument for observing Earth’s surface deformation, topography, and vegetation with unprecedented precision.

Their project, “HALE InSAR,” has demonstrated the feasibility of using high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) vehicles equipped with Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to observe changes in surface deformation mere millimeters in size and terrain information with centimetric vertical accuracy.

“It’s a level of sensitivity that has eluded traditional radar sensors, without making them bulky and expensive,” said Lauren Wye, CEO of Aloft Sensing and principal investigator for HALE InSAR.

HALE vehicles are lightweight aircraft designed to stay airborne for extended periods of time, from weeks to months and even years. These vehicles can revisit a scene multiple times an hour, making them ideal for locating subtle changes in an area’s geologic environment.

InSAR, a remote sensing technique that compares multiple images of the same scene to detect changes in surface topography or determine structure, is also uniquely well-suited to locate these clues. But traditional InSAR instruments are typically too large to fly aboard HALE vehicles.

HALE InSAR is different. The instrument is compact enough for a variety of HALE vehicles, weighing less than 15 pounds (seven kilograms) and consuming fewer than 300 watts of power, about as much energy as it takes to power an electric bike.

HALE InSAR leverages previously-funded NASA technologies to make such detailed measurements from a small platform: a novel electronically steered antenna and advanced positioning algorithms embedded within an agile software-defined transceiver. These technologies were developed under ESTO’s Instrument Incubation Program (IIP) and Decadal Survey Incubation (DSI) Program, respectively.

“All of the design features that we’ve built into the instrument are starting to showcase themselves and highlight why this payload in particular is distinct from what other small radars might be looking to achieve,” said Wye.

One of those features is a flat phased array antenna, which gives users the ability to focus HALE InSAR’s radar beam without physically moving the instrument. Using a panel about the size of a tablet computer, operators can steer the beam electronically, eliminating the need for gimbles and other heavy components, which helps enable the instrument’s reduced size and weight.

A close up HALE InSAR fixed to a high-altitude airship. The flat planar antenna reduces the instruments mass and eliminates the need for gimbles and other heavy components. Credit: Aloft Sensing

“SAR needs to look to the side. Our instrument can be mounted straight down, but look left and right on every other pulse such that we’re collecting a left-looking SAR image and a right-looking SAR image essentially simultaneously. It opens up opportunities for the most mass-constrained types of stratospheric vehicles,” said Wye.

Using advanced positioning algorithms, HALE InSAR also has the unique ability to locate itself without GPS, relying instead on feedback from its own radar signals to determine its position even more accurately. Brian Pollard, Chief Engineer at Aloft Sensing and co-investigator for HALE InSAR, explained that precise positioning is essential for creating high-resolution data about surface deformation and topography.

“SAR is like a long exposure camera, except with radio waves. Your exposure time could be a minute or two long, so you can imagine how much smearing goes on if you don’t know exactly where the radar is,” said Pollard.

Navigating without GPS also makes HALE InSAR ideal for field missions in austere environments where reliable GPS signals may be unavailable, increasing the instrument’s utility for national security applications and science missions in remote locations.

The Aloft Sensing team recently achieved several key milestones, validating their instrument aboard an airship at 65,000 feet as well as small stratospheric balloons. Next, they’ll test HALE InSAR aboard a fixed wing HALE aircraft. A future version of their instrument could even find its way into low Earth orbit on a small satellite.

Wye credits NASA support for helping her company turn a prototype into a proven instrument.

“This technology has been critically enabled by ESTO, and the benefit to science and civil applications is huge,” said Wye. “It also exemplifies the dual-use potential enabled by NASA-funded research. We are seeing significant military interest in this capability now that it is reaching maturity. As a small business, we need this hand-in-hand approach to be able to succeed.”

For more information about opportunities to work with NASA to develop new Earth observation technologies, visit esto.nasa.gov.

For additional details, see the entry for this project on NASA TechPort.

Project Lead: Dr. Lauren Wye, CEO, Aloft Sensing

Sponsoring Organization: NASA’s Instrument Incubation Program (IIP)

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Related Terms

• Earth Science Division
• Earth Science Technology Office
• Science-enabling Technology
• Technology Highlights

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A collaboration between NASA and the small business Aloft Sensing produced a new compact radar system that will enable researchers to leverage High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) platforms to observe dynamic Earth systems. This new radar is small, provides highly sensitive measurements, and doesn’t require GPS for positioning; eventually, it could be used on vehicles in space.

HALE InSAR flies aboard a high-altitude balloon during a test-flight. This lightweight instrument will help researchers measure ground deformation and dynamic Earth systems. Credit: Aloft Sensing

Long before a volcano erupts or a mountainous snowpack disappears, millimeter-scale changes in Earth’s surface indicate larger geologic processes are at work. But detecting those minute changes, which can serve as early warnings for impending disasters, is difficult.

With support from NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO ) a team of researchers from the small aerospace company Aloft Sensing is developing a compact radar instrument for observing Earth’s surface deformation, topography, and vegetation with unprecedented precision.

Their project, “HALE InSAR,” has demonstrated the feasibility of using high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) vehicles equipped with Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to observe changes in surface deformation mere millimeters in size and terrain information with centimetric vertical accuracy.

“It’s a level of sensitivity that has eluded traditional radar sensors, without making them bulky and expensive,” said Lauren Wye, CEO of Aloft Sensing and principal investigator for HALE InSAR.

HALE vehicles are lightweight aircraft designed to stay airborne for extended periods of time, from weeks to months and even years. These vehicles can revisit a scene multiple times an hour, making them ideal for locating subtle changes in an area’s geologic environment.

InSAR, a remote sensing technique that compares multiple images of the same scene to detect changes in surface topography or determine structure, is also uniquely well-suited to locate these clues. But traditional InSAR instruments are typically too large to fly aboard HALE vehicles.

HALE InSAR is different. The instrument is compact enough for a variety of HALE vehicles, weighing less than 15 pounds (seven kilograms) and consuming fewer than 300 watts of power, about as much energy as it takes to power an electric bike.

HALE InSAR leverages previously-funded NASA technologies to make such detailed measurements from a small platform: a novel electronically steered antenna and advanced positioning algorithms embedded within an agile software-defined transceiver. These technologies were developed under ESTO’s Instrument Incubation Program (IIP) and Decadal Survey Incubation (DSI) Program, respectively.

“All of the design features that we’ve built into the instrument are starting to showcase themselves and highlight why this payload in particular is distinct from what other small radars might be looking to achieve,” said Wye.

One of those features is a flat phased array antenna, which gives users the ability to focus HALE InSAR’s radar beam without physically moving the instrument. Using a panel about the size of a tablet computer, operators can steer the beam electronically, eliminating the need for gimbles and other heavy components, which helps enable the instrument’s reduced size and weight.

A close up HALE InSAR fixed to a high-altitude airship. The flat planar antenna reduces the instruments mass and eliminates the need for gimbles and other heavy components. Credit: Aloft Sensing

“SAR needs to look to the side. Our instrument can be mounted straight down, but look left and right on every other pulse such that we’re collecting a left-looking SAR image and a right-looking SAR image essentially simultaneously. It opens up opportunities for the most mass-constrained types of stratospheric vehicles,” said Wye.

Using advanced positioning algorithms, HALE InSAR also has the unique ability to locate itself without GPS, relying instead on feedback from its own radar signals to determine its position even more accurately. Brian Pollard, Chief Engineer at Aloft Sensing and co-investigator for HALE InSAR, explained that precise positioning is essential for creating high-resolution data about surface deformation and topography.

“SAR is like a long exposure camera, except with radio waves. Your exposure time could be a minute or two long, so you can imagine how much smearing goes on if you don’t know exactly where the radar is,” said Pollard.

Navigating without GPS also makes HALE InSAR ideal for field missions in austere environments where reliable GPS signals may be unavailable, increasing the instrument’s utility for national security applications and science missions in remote locations.

The Aloft Sensing team recently achieved several key milestones, validating their instrument aboard an airship at 65,000 feet as well as small stratospheric balloons. Next, they’ll test HALE InSAR aboard a fixed wing HALE aircraft. A future version of their instrument could even find its way into low Earth orbit on a small satellite.

Wye credits NASA support for helping her company turn a prototype into a proven instrument.

“This technology has been critically enabled by ESTO, and the benefit to science and civil applications is huge,” said Wye. “It also exemplifies the dual-use potential enabled by NASA-funded research. We are seeing significant military interest in this capability now that it is reaching maturity. As a small business, we need this hand-in-hand approach to be able to succeed.”

For more information about opportunities to work with NASA to develop new Earth observation technologies, visit esto.nasa.gov.

For additional details, see the entry for this project on NASA TechPort.

Project Lead: Dr. Lauren Wye, CEO, Aloft Sensing

Sponsoring Organization: NASA’s Instrument Incubation Program (IIP)

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Aug 19, 2025

Related Terms

• Earth Science Division
• Earth Science Technology Office
• Science-enabling Technology
• Technology Highlights

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Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) This National Aviation Day graphic shows Orville Wright surrounded by the faces of some of NASA’s aeronautical innovators.NASA / Maria Werries

The first “A” in NASA stands for Aeronautics – so naturally that means today, Aug. 19, National Aviation Day, is one of our favorite days all year!

National Aviation Day was first proclaimed in 1939 by President Franklin Roosevelt to celebrate the birthday of aviation pioneer Orville Wright, who, with his brother Wilbur, in 1903, were the first humans to achieve powered flight.

Each year since the President first marked the occasion, sky-faring Americans have come together on this date in an annual celebration of flight – a time to revel in spreading our wings and slipping the surly bonds of Earth.

All of us at NASA share in that celebration. We love everything about flight, whether it’s into space or within Earth’s atmosphere.

Our aeronautical innovators are dedicated to improving the design of airplanes to carry on pioneering new technologies in high-speed flight, airframes and propulsion methods, aerospace engineering modelling, and automating airspace and safety management.

Our heritage in aviation research goes back more than 100 years. We’ve helped air travel become a safe, efficient, reliable form of transportation. If you’re heading to an airport, keep an eye out for these NASA-developed aviation technologies you might see on your flight:

WINGLETSNASA studies led to development of vertical extensions that can be attached to wing tips in order to reduce aerodynamic drag without having to increase wingspan. Winglets help increase an airplane’s range, decrease fuel use, and today can be seen on airplanes everywhere.NASA CHEVRON NOZZLESWorking with its industry partners, NASA researchers determined an effective way to reduce noise levels on the ground and in the passenger cabin was to add saw tooth-shaped cut outs, or chevrons, to structures such as exhaust nozzles and cowlings of jet engines.NASA / The Boeing Company GLASS COCKPITS NASA created and tested the concept of replacing dial and gauge instruments with flat panel digital displays. The displays present information more efficiently and provide the flight crew with a more easily understood picture of the aircraft’s health and position.NASA Langley / Sean Smith How Will You Celebrate?

How else can you celebrate National Aviation Day? Here are seven ideas:

Visit your local science museum or NASA visitor center

Explore your local science center for exhibits about aviation and how an airplane flies. And if you live within a short drive from Norfolk, Virginia; Cleveland, or San Francisco, you might consider checking out the visitor centers associated with NASA’s Langley Research Center, Glenn Research Center, or Ames Research Center, respectively. These major NASA field centers play host to the majority of NASA’s aeronautics research. (NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, the fourth of NASA’s aeronautics centers, is located within the restricted area of Edwards Air Force Base in California so they do not have a public visitor’s center.)

Watch an aviation-themed movie

There’s no shortage of classic aviation-themed movies available to watch in any format (streaming, DVD, cinema, library rentals, etc.), and with any snacks (popcorn, nachos, gummies, etc.). We dare not attempt a comprehensive list, but a good place to start is our documentary “X-59: NASA’s “Quesst” for Quiet Supersonic Flight” available to stream on NASA+.

Build an airplane

Why not? It doesn’t have to be big enough to actually fly in – plastic model kits of the world’s most historic aircraft can be just as rewarding and just as educational, especially for kids who might be thinking about a career as an engineer or technician. In fact, many astronauts will tell you their love of aviation and space began with putting models together as a child. Another idea: Grab some LEGO bricks and build the airplane of your dreams. Or make it easy on yourself, fold a paper airplane and shoot it across the room.

Take an introductory flight lesson

Pilots will tell you there is a wonderful sense of freedom in flying, not to mention the incredible views and the personal sense of accomplishment. At the same time, being a pilot is not for everyone, but you won’t know unless you try! Many general aviation airports in the nation have a flight school that may offer an introductory flight lesson at a discounted price. And if you want a taste of flight without leaving the ground, computer desktop flight simulators such as Microsoft Flight Simulator or X-Plane are popular choices and can get you into the virtual sky in short order.

Visit your local library or download a NASA e-book

Aviation-themed books, whether fact or fiction, are all over the shelves of your local library – literally. That’s because there’s no single Dewey Decimal number for aviation. A book about aviation history will be in a different section of the library than a book about how to design an airplane. And creative nonfiction books such as the Mark Vanhoenacker’s “Skyfaring,” or autobiographies such as Eileen Collins’ “Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars,” are off on yet another shelf. Don’t hesitate to ask your librarian for help. And when you get back from the library, or while still there, jump online and check out the NASA e-books you can download and own for free.

Have a plane spotting picnic near an airport

At Washington’s National Airport, it’s Gravelly Point. In Tampa, Florida it’s International Mall. If you live near a major international airport, chances are you know the best place where the locals can go to watch aircraft take off and land up close. Be sure to take heed of any security restrictions about where you can and can’t go. But once you have your spot picked out, then load up your picnic basket and camp out for an evening of plane spotting. See how many different types of airplanes you can count or identify.

Follow what we’re doing to transform aviation

NASA’s aeronautical innovators are working to transform air transportation to meet the future needs of the global aviation community. Sounds like a big job, right? It is and there are many ways in which NASA is doing this. Improving an airplane’s aerodynamics, making airplanes more efficient and quieter, working with the Federal Aviation Administration to improve air traffic control – the list could go on for many thousands of more words. Bookmark our NASA Aeronautics topic page and follow us on social media @NASAaero.

So remember this National Aviation Day, NASA is with you when you fly!

About the AuthorJohn GouldAeronautics Research Mission Directorate

John Gould is a member of NASA Aeronautics' Strategic Communications team at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. He is dedicated to public service and NASA’s leading role in scientific exploration. Prior to working for NASA Aeronautics, he was a spaceflight historian and writer, having a lifelong passion for space and aviation.

Facebook logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Instagram logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Linkedin logo @NASA Explore More 5 min read National Aviation Day: Celebrating NASA’s Heritage While Charting Our Future Article 1 hour ago 4 min read NASA Tests Research Aircraft to Improve Air Taxi Flight Controls Article 5 days ago 3 min read NASA Uses Wind Tunnel to Test Advanced Air Mobility Aircraft Wing Article 2 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA

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5 min read

Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) This National Aviation Day graphic shows Orville Wright surrounded by the faces of some of NASA’s aeronautical innovators.NASA / Maria Werries

The first “A” in NASA stands for Aeronautics – so naturally that means today, Aug. 19, National Aviation Day, is one of our favorite days all year!

National Aviation Day was first proclaimed in 1939 by President Franklin Roosevelt to celebrate the birthday of aviation pioneer Orville Wright, who, with his brother Wilbur, in 1903, were the first humans to achieve powered flight.

Each year since the President first marked the occasion, sky-faring Americans have come together on this date in an annual celebration of flight – a time to revel in spreading our wings and slipping the surly bonds of Earth.

All of us at NASA share in that celebration. We love everything about flight, whether it’s into space or within Earth’s atmosphere.

Our aeronautical innovators are dedicated to improving the design of airplanes to carry on pioneering new technologies in high-speed flight, airframes and propulsion methods, aerospace engineering modelling, and automating airspace and safety management.

Our heritage in aviation research goes back more than 100 years. We’ve helped air travel become a safe, efficient, reliable form of transportation. If you’re heading to an airport, keep an eye out for these NASA-developed aviation technologies you might see on your flight:

WINGLETSNASA studies led to development of vertical extensions that can be attached to wing tips in order to reduce aerodynamic drag without having to increase wingspan. Winglets help increase an airplane’s range, decrease fuel use, and today can be seen on airplanes everywhere.NASA CHEVRON NOZZLESWorking with its industry partners, NASA researchers determined an effective way to reduce noise levels on the ground and in the passenger cabin was to add saw tooth-shaped cut outs, or chevrons, to structures such as exhaust nozzles and cowlings of jet engines.NASA / The Boeing Company GLASS COCKPITS NASA created and tested the concept of replacing dial and gauge instruments with flat panel digital displays. The displays present information more efficiently and provide the flight crew with a more easily understood picture of the aircraft’s health and position.NASA Langley / Sean Smith How Will You Celebrate?

How else can you celebrate National Aviation Day? Here are seven ideas:

Visit your local science museum or NASA visitor center

Explore your local science center for exhibits about aviation and how an airplane flies. And if you live within a short drive from Norfolk, Virginia; Cleveland, or San Francisco, you might consider checking out the visitor centers associated with NASA’s Langley Research Center, Glenn Research Center, or Ames Research Center, respectively. These major NASA field centers play host to the majority of NASA’s aeronautics research. (NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, the fourth of NASA’s aeronautics centers, is located within the restricted area of Edwards Air Force Base in California so they do not have a public visitor’s center.)

Watch an aviation-themed movie

There’s no shortage of classic aviation-themed movies available to watch in any format (streaming, DVD, cinema, library rentals, etc.), and with any snacks (popcorn, nachos, gummies, etc.). We dare not attempt a comprehensive list, but a good place to start is our documentary “X-59: NASA’s “Quesst” for Quiet Supersonic Flight” available to stream on NASA+.

Build an airplane

Why not? It doesn’t have to be big enough to actually fly in – plastic model kits of the world’s most historic aircraft can be just as rewarding and just as educational, especially for kids who might be thinking about a career as an engineer or technician. In fact, many astronauts will tell you their love of aviation and space began with putting models together as a child. Another idea: Grab some LEGO bricks and build the airplane of your dreams. Or make it easy on yourself, fold a paper airplane and shoot it across the room.

Take an introductory flight lesson

Pilots will tell you there is a wonderful sense of freedom in flying, not to mention the incredible views and the personal sense of accomplishment. At the same time, being a pilot is not for everyone, but you won’t know unless you try! Many general aviation airports in the nation have a flight school that may offer an introductory flight lesson at a discounted price. And if you want a taste of flight without leaving the ground, computer desktop flight simulators such as Microsoft Flight Simulator or X-Plane are popular choices and can get you into the virtual sky in short order.

Visit your local library or download a NASA e-book

Aviation-themed books, whether fact or fiction, are all over the shelves of your local library – literally. That’s because there’s no single Dewey Decimal number for aviation. A book about aviation history will be in a different section of the library than a book about how to design an airplane. And creative nonfiction books such as the Mark Vanhoenacker’s “Skyfaring,” or autobiographies such as Eileen Collins’ “Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars,” are off on yet another shelf. Don’t hesitate to ask your librarian for help. And when you get back from the library, or while still there, jump online and check out the NASA e-books you can download and own for free.

Have a plane spotting picnic near an airport

At Washington’s National Airport, it’s Gravelly Point. In Tampa, Florida it’s International Mall. If you live near a major international airport, chances are you know the best place where the locals can go to watch aircraft take off and land up close. Be sure to take heed of any security restrictions about where you can and can’t go. But once you have your spot picked out, then load up your picnic basket and camp out for an evening of plane spotting. See how many different types of airplanes you can count or identify.

Follow what we’re doing to transform aviation

NASA’s aeronautical innovators are working to transform air transportation to meet the future needs of the global aviation community. Sounds like a big job, right? It is and there are many ways in which NASA is doing this. Improving an airplane’s aerodynamics, making airplanes more efficient and quieter, working with the Federal Aviation Administration to improve air traffic control – the list could go on for many thousands of more words. Bookmark our NASA Aeronautics topic page and follow us on social media @NASAaero.

So remember this National Aviation Day, NASA is with you when you fly!

About the AuthorJohn GouldAeronautics Research Mission Directorate

John Gould is a member of NASA Aeronautics' Strategic Communications team at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. He is dedicated to public service and NASA’s leading role in scientific exploration. Prior to working for NASA Aeronautics, he was a spaceflight historian and writer, having a lifelong passion for space and aviation.

Facebook logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Instagram logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Linkedin logo @NASA Explore More 5 min read National Aviation Day: Celebrating NASA’s Heritage While Charting Our Future Article 2 hours ago 4 min read NASA Tests Research Aircraft to Improve Air Taxi Flight Controls Article 5 days ago 3 min read NASA Uses Wind Tunnel to Test Advanced Air Mobility Aircraft Wing Article 2 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA

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Share

Details Last Updated Aug 19, 2025 Related Terms

• Aeronautics
• Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate