This info-graphic shows many of the programs aand projects designed and tested at NASA’s Test Flight Center at Edwards, AFB.

NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, formerly known as NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, has been a hub for a wide range of aerospace research and flight testing projects. Here’s a timeline of significant events and projects associated with NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center:

1940s:

• 1946: The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), NASA’s predecessor, establishes the Muroc Flight Test Unit, which later becomes the High-Speed Flight Research Station (HSFRS).

1950s:

• 1954: The HSFRS conducts the first successful flight of the Bell X-1B rocket plane.
• 1957: The center plays a role in testing the X-15 rocket plane, which eventually achieves manned suborbital and orbital spaceflights.

1960s:

• 1962: The center is renamed the NASA Flight Research Center (FRC).
• 1969: FRC supports the lunar landing missions by developing and testing the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) to simulate lunar landings.

1970s:

• 1971: The FRC begins conducting research on Space Shuttle landing and approach tests.
• 1976: The center is renamed the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center in honor of Hugh L. Dryden, a pioneering aeronautical engineer.

1980s:

• 1981: Dryden is involved in the approach and landing tests for the Space Shuttle.
• 1983: The center tests the first Space Shuttle Orbiter, Columbia, as part of the Shuttle program.

1990s:

• 1991: Dryden supports the Space Shuttle’s Return to Flight program following the Challenger disaster.
• 1994: The DC-X (Delta Clipper Experimental) vertical takeoff and landing vehicle is tested at Dryden.

2000s:

• 2004: The center is renamed the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.
• 2005: Dryden conducts a series of research flights with the X-43A, setting world records for aircraft speed at Mach 7 and Mach 9.6.
• 2009: The center is renamed the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center to honor astronaut and test pilot Neil A. Armstrong.

2010s:

• 2013: Dryden conducts flight testing for the Mars Science Laboratory’s Entry, Descent, and Landing system.
• 2014: The center begins flight tests of the Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge (ACTE) technology on a Gulfstream III aircraft.
• 2015: Armstrong Flight Research Center supports the development of the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) for future Mars missions.

2020s:

• Ongoing: Armstrong Flight Research Center continues to be a vital facility for a wide range of aerospace research and testing projects, including advanced aircraft, unmanned systems, and space exploration technologies.

Throughout its history, NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center has played a crucial role in advancing aerospace technology, conducting research, and supporting space exploration missions. It remains a key facility for testing and developing cutting-edge technologies for the future of aviation and space exploration.