NASA has revealed a newly painted Boeing 737-700 that is being modified for reduced-gravity research flights. The aircraft, painted in Oklahoma, is moving through conversion work before entering service as a test platform for parabolic missions that simulate low-gravity conditions for space-related experiments and mission preparation.
The jet will support NASA’s flight research programme and is intended to give engineers and researchers a dedicated U.S. government platform for gravity-simulation testing. The aircraft’s new paint scheme is the latest visible step in the conversion process, while work continues on the systems needed for its future role.
NASA’s update places the aircraft in a modification phase rather than operational service, and no entry-into-service date has been disclosed. Coverage of the project identifies the aircraft as a Boeing 737-700, with the long-term aim of supporting reduced-gravity research flights used to validate equipment and procedures before space missions.