The U.S. Navy's MZ-3A manned airship, assigned to Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 of the Military Support Division at the Naval Research Laboratory, prepares to lift off for an orientation flight from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland (USA). The MZ-3A is an advanced flying laboratory used to evaluate affordable sensor payloads and provide support for other related science and technology projects for the naval research enterprise.