NASA Reveals New Livery for 737 Aircraft Dedicated to Lunar Research

• NASA has unveiled a newly painted 737 aircraft in Oklahoma.
• The aircraft is currently undergoing modifications to serve as a reduced-gravity research platform for future lunar missions.

Aircraft Acquisition and Management

• The aircraft was transferred from the U.S. Air Force to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, in June 2026.
• While Armstrong will oversee the project, operations for reduced-gravity flight testing will be conducted at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Research Objectives

• Lunar-gravity parabolic flights: The plane will simulate lunar gravity to validate astronaut lunar suits and supporting crew systems essential for Artemis mission objectives.
• Systems integration: The asset will also be used to conduct research into flight testing for autonomy, sensors, and other advanced digital systems.