Connect with NASA Dryden
Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility
Dryden's Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale offers the expanded space needed to manage the Center's airborne science missions and research platforms.
This Week in Dryden's History
A collection of historical facts and events from Dryden's last 50 years.
Dryden Tours Cancelled
Due to budgetary constraints, group and individual tours of Dryden Flight Research Center have been cancelled effective Dec. 16, 2011.
DFRC Severe Weather Instructions
Employee procedures for determining if Dryden is open for a normal workday during severe weather conditions.
Dryden News and Features
News and Features
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NASA Global Hawks Aid UAV-to-UAV Refueling Project
NASA's two Global Hawk aircraft, one outfitted as a receiver and the other as a tanker, validate UAV-to-UAV autonomous aerial refueling technology.
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SOFIA Mirror Cleaned to Prepare for Next Missions
Technicians use water, a mild detergent and a small filtered blower to remove dust and other material that had adhered to mirror's precision optics.
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NASA Aeronautics on Exhibit at Balloon Fiesta
Visitors can learn about NASA's work to improve the efficiency of the nation's aircraft and aviation systems during the 41st Balloon Fiesta Oct. 6-14.
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Dryden's Jim Smolka Honored by Test Pilot Society
Jim Smolka, Director of Flight Operations at NASA Dryden, is among 10 persons selected to become Fellows of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
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NASA Airborne Radar To Study Japanese Volcanoes
NASA's Airborne Science C-20A, carrying JPL's UAVSAR sensor, travels to Alaska and Japan this week for a radar imaging study of active volcanoes.
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NASA Social: Space Shuttle Creates Awe and Wonder
NASA Social media followers at NASA Dryden shared rare access to the landing of Endeavour atop its host 747 on Sept. 20 and departure Sept. 21.
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NASA Plane Helps Develop New Science Instruments
Over the next few weeks, an ER-2 high altitude research aircraft will take part in the development of two future satellite instruments.
Dryden Spotlight
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Research Update
Current flight research projects and programs being flown at Dryden Flight Research Center.
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NASA Dryden FY2011
Citizen ReportNASA's Dryden Flight Research Center has issued its Citizen Report for fiscal year 2011, outlining the center's work and economic impact on the local community during the year.
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SOFIA
NASA is developing the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy - or SOFIA - as a world-class airborne observatory that will complement the Hubble, Spitzer, Herschel and James Webb space telescopes and major Earth-based telescopes.
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NASA Dryden and the Space Shuttles
Although most followers of NASA's Space Shuttle Program associate the shuttles with NASA's space-oriented field centers, major contributions to the shuttles' development occurred at NASA's four research field centers. Learn about some of NASA Dryden's contributions to space shuttle development and support in this series of historical articles
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X-15 Interactive Feature
The sensational, iconic, and groundbreaking X-15 hypersonic research aircraft extended flight to the edge of space during the 1950s and 1960s.
X-Press Publications
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X-Press: NASA 747 SCA Delivers History
As the awe-inspiring 30-year Space Shuttle Program comes to a close, a set of flights added to its spectacular history.
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X-Press: Shuttle Tribute
Dryden played an important role in the shuttle program from its earliest stages. The space shuttle prototype Enterprise was flown at the center in a 1977 series of flight tests that evaluated glide and landing characteristics of the 100-ton vehicles.
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Aerovations
Expanding on initiatives of the former Innovative Partnerships Program, new opportunities are nurturing innovations inside and outside of NASA.
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Multimedia
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Aircraft Imagery
Photos, video and graphics of Dryden aircraft