The Dryden Flight Research Center in 

California’s Mojave Desert is NASA’s lead 

installation for atmospheric flight research. 

Dryden performs research, development and 

verification of advanced aerospace technologies for production, prototype or experimental 

vehicles.

NASA Dryden has played a significant role in 

NASA’s human space flight programs. Dryden’s 

major past and present contributions to 

America’s access to space date from the late 

1950s and continue today as NASA embarks 

on the Constellation program to resume human 

exploration of the moon and the solar system. 

Research with the X-15 rocket plane in the 

1960s contributed to space exploration in 

several areas, including:

• Reaction control systems for attitude 

 control and maneuvering outside the 

 Earth’s atmosphere.

• Life support systems, such as practical full-

 pressure suits for pilot protection.

• Inertial navigation systems for operation in 

 low and high dynamic flight conditions.

• Flight control mechanisms that could control 

 a vehicle in high and low dynamic flight con-

 ditions as well as gravity-free environments.

The Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) 

investigated vehicle control and landing capabilities in zero dynamic pressure and near 

weightlessness, analog fly-by-wire control, 

and trained astronauts to safely land an unconventional vehicle in those conditions.

The family of wingless lifting bodies flown in 

the late 1960s and early 1970s enabled us to 

investigate energy management techniques 

for atmospheric re-entry and controlled descent to a landing in a vehicle without wings 

or power.

NASA Dryden’s Contributions to Spaceflight
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Dryden Flight Research Center

P.O. Box 273

Edwards, CA 93523-0273

Voice 661-276-3449 FAX 661-276-3566

pao@dfrc.nasa.gov

The F-8 Digital Fly-By-Wire program demonstrated 

digital computer control of aircraft flight controls, which 

led to lighter weight, greater redundancy and more precision. The project also flight-validated the computers 

used in the Shuttle’s flight control system, and resolved 

pilot-induced oscillation tendencies in digital controls 

through the development of suppression filters.

Research with the triple-sonic YF-12 led to a central 

airborne performance analyzer that became the basis 

for vehicle health monitoring system used on the space 

shuttles. 

The space shuttle Approach and Landing Tests validated both the ability of the modified Boeing 747 Shuttle 

Carrier Aircraft to carry the shuttle and the approach 

and precision landing of the unpowered shuttle on the 

main and lakebed runways at Edwards Air Force Base. 

Dryden flight-validated the shuttle’s solid rocket booster 

parachute recovery system in the 1980s, and the effectiveness of the shuttle’s drag parachute a decade later.

Dryden Loads Laboratory also validated the integrity of 

the shuttle’s structure under intense thermal conditions. 

Dryden conducted flight tests of the shuttle's Thermal 

Protection System, using F-104 and F-15 aircraft to test 

shuttle TPS tiles under various aerodynamic and atmospheric conditions.

Tests on a modified CV-990 led to improved shuttle tires 

and brakes, higher crosswind landing limits and resurfacing of the Kennedy runway for better tire wear. 

Tests flown on Dryden's F-15B research testbed aircraft 

in 2005 investigated the trajectory of insulating foam 

that separates from the shuttle’s external tank on ascent. 

Dryden has supported numerous space shuttle landings 

at Edwards, including deservicing and ferry flight operations to return the shuttle to the Kennedy Space Center 

launch site. Since orbital missions began in 1981, 

Dryden has been the site of 50 shuttle landings. 

Looking to the future, the same skills that have enabled 

NASA researchers and pilots to unlock aeronautical 

secrets for decades are being called upon to accelerate 

the development of NASA’s exploration systems. 

NASA Dryden will lead the flight test integration and operations of a system that safely aborts a launch of the 

Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle if problems develop that 

are hazardous to the crew. 

In addition, Dryden’s responsibilities for the Orion vehicle will include:

• Abort test booster procurement

• Flight test article and abort test booster integration

• Flight test article design, assembly, integration and 

 testing

• Independent analysis and oversight of prime contrac-

 tors' flight test articles

Dryden will also be responsible for preliminary definition 

and planning for the Orion launch abort systems tests, 

drop tests, landing and recovery tests, flight re-entry 

and landing profiles, and range safety requirements and 

integration. 

FS-2006-11-091-DFRC

Nose Cone

Adapter Cone

Attitude Control Motor

(Eight Nozzles)

Canard Section

(Stowed Configuration)

Crew Module

(CM)

Boost

Protective

Cover

(BPC)

Jettison Motor

(Four Scarfed Nozzles)

Abort Motor

(Four Reverse

Flow Nozzles)