NASA has revealed a newly repainted Boeing 737 that is being converted into a reduced-gravity research aircraft for use in Artemis-related testing and broader flight research. The jet, which moved from U.S. Air Force ownership to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in June, will support lunar-gravity parabolic flights for evaluating astronaut suits and crew systems, while also serving as a platform for autonomy, sensor and other digital systems work.
The aircraft was painted in Oklahoma on 13 August and is now being modified for its new role. NASA Armstrong is overseeing the programme, while Johnson Space Center in Houston will handle future reduced-gravity operations. Denmar Technical Services is involved in modification, maintenance and test support.
The Boeing 737 previously served in the Air Force inventory in a largely secretive test role, and its earlier mission history has not been fully disclosed publicly. Under NASA ownership, the aircraft will function as a flying laboratory for human-spaceflight qualification and aeronautics research, with parabolic manoeuvres designed to reproduce lunar gravity for Artemis hardware checks and crew training.