Passion and Precision Driving NASA’s Subscale Flight Research

• Experts at NASA's Dale Reed Subscale Flight Research Laboratory utilize small uncrewed aircraft to accelerate aerospace innovation and mission testing.
• The team is currently testing the Safe and Precise Landing – Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) system on an Alta-X drone to enable precision landing and hazard avoidance for future lunar and Martian missions.

Core Team

• Derek Abramson: Chief engineer specializing in system design, management, and technical oversight.
• Justin Hall: Chief pilot known for creative problem-solving and flight safety management.
• Justin Link: Drone pilot with expertise in vehicle fabrication and composite materials.

Professional Background

• The team’s mission-focused work is fueled by lifelong, hands-on experience in building and flying radio-controlled aircraft from their youth.
• Individual members bring extensive professional experience from the U.S. Navy and the aerospace industry, ranging from avionics maintenance to flight testing.
• Small-scale, remotely piloted, and autonomous aircraft allow the team to evaluate new concepts rapidly, safely, and cost-effectively, bridging the gap between theoretical design and full-scale flight.