NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center photos from the 2000s

Robert White, Bill Dana, Neil Armstrong and Joe Engle were on hand when astronaut wings were presented to the three NASA pilots who flew the X-15 into space.

NASA Dryden aircraft and avionics technicians install the nose cone on an inert Phoenix missile prior to a fit check on the center's F-15B research aircraft.

Surplus Phoenix missiles like this one mounted on the centerline pylon of NASA's F-15B research aircraft may be used to acquire hypersonic flight test data.

Approaching the runway after the first evaluation flight of the Quiet Spike project, NASA's F-15B testbed aircraft cruises over Roger's Dry Lakebed

NASA Dryden's T-38 Talon trainer aircraft in flight near Edwards Air Force Base

Members of the SOFIA infrared observatory support team gather around Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin (in red shirt) during Aldrin's tour of NASA Dryden

Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin (left) and Apollo-Soyuz and space shuttle astronaut Vance Brand discuss Dryden's work on an Orion fit-check crew module mockup

Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin autographs NASA Dryden's F-16XL research aircraft, as his crewmate Neil Armstrong had previously done on the other side

Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin tries out the control station for the X-48B Blended Wing Body unmanned subscale demonstrator during a tour of NASA Dryden

Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin and tour guide Mary Ann Harness check out models of the Ares 1 and Ares 5 space vehicles during Aldrin's tour of NASA Dryden

The Space Shuttle Atlantis touches down at Edwards AFB on June 22, 2007, to conclude International Space Station construction and supply mission STS-117

NASA's highly modified NF-15B research aircraft cruises over Southern California's Tehachapi Mountains near Lake Isabella during a research mission.

A pristine blue sky backdrops the X-48B Blended Wing Body aircraft during the aircraft's first flight July 20, 2007, from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center

New range safety and range user system antennas for the ECANS project can be seen just behind and to the left of the cockpit on NASA's NF-15B research aircraft.

The jagged ridges of Southern California's Tehachapi Mountains form the backdrop to NASA's brightly-colored NF-15B testbed aircraft during a research mission.

Two small Range Safety System antennas are located just behind the engine inlets of NASA's NF-15B research aircraft as it banks away from the chase plane.

Range safety and phased-array range user system antennas validated in the ECANS project can be seen just behind the cockpit on NASA's NF-15B research aircraft.

A water-cannon salute from two Air Force fire trucks heralds NASA research pilot Gordon Fullerton's final mission as his NASA F/A-18 taxis beneath the spray.

NASA Dryden research pilot Gordon Fullerton flies his final mission in NASA F/A-18B #852 in formation with NASA F/A-18A #850 on Dec. 21, 2007.

Two NASA Dryden F/A-18s flown by Gordon Fullerton and Nils Larson fly in tight formation Dec. 21, 2007 during Fullerton's final flight before his retirement.

More than 200 Dryden staff formed two long lines on the Dryden ramp to greet retired research pilot Gordon Fullerton after his final flight in a NASA F/A-18.

Retired NASA research pilot and former astronaut Gordon Fullerton was greeted by scores of NASA Dryden staff who bid him farewell after his final NASA flight.

Air Force fire/rescue crew enter the space shuttle cabin mockup hatch to evacuate the shuttle crew during a shuttle rescue training exercise at Edwards AFB

NASA's 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft with the Space Shuttle Atlantis on top lifts off to begin its ferry flight back to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida

Technicians attach the tail cone to the Space Shuttle Atlantis in preparation for its return to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida

Nils Larson

NASA Dryden research pilot Gordon Fullerton is greeted by his wife Marie on the Dryden ramp after his final flight in a NASA F/A-18 on Dec. 21, 2007.

Space Shuttle Endeavour touches down at Edwards Air Force Base Nov. 30, 2008 to conclude mission STS-126 to the International Space Station

Space Shuttle Endeavour rolls out on runway 04-L at Edwards Air Force Base moments after touchdown, ending mission STS-126 to the International Space Station

Space Shuttle Endeavour rolls out after landing on runway 04-L at Edwards AFB, ending mission STS-126 to the International Space Station Nov. 30, 2008

Space Shuttle Endeavour rolls out after landing on runway 04-L at Edwards AFB, ending mission STS-126 to the International Space Station Nov. 30, 2008

The X-48B Blended Wing Body research aircraft banks smartly in this Block 2 flight phase image

Block 2 Flight Phase Shows X-48B in Banking Maneuver

Making a nice landing, the X-48B Blended Wing Body research aircraft team ends another successful Block 2 flight

NASA aerial photographer Carla Thomas captured this top-down view of the Space Shuttle Endeavor mounted on a…

Technicians position the transport cradle as a crane lowers SOFIA's primary mirror assembly into place prior to finish coating of the mirror at NASA Ames

Ground crewmen shove the more than two-ton SOFIA primary mirror assembly in its transport crate into a C-17's cavernous cargo bay for shipment to NASA Ames

Ground crewmen prepare to load the crated SOFIA primary mirror assembly into an Air Force C-17 for shipment to NASA Ames Research Center for finish coating

Technicians carefully guide SOFIA's primary mirror assembly on its transport cradle into a clean room where it is being prepared for shipment to NASA Ames

The SOFIA primary mirror assembly is cautiously lifted from its cavity in the modified 747 by a crane in preparation for finish coating operations at NASA Ames

SOFIA's primary mirror assembly is cradled on its dolly as technicians prepare to move it into a "clean room" at NASA Dryden's Aircraft Operations Facility

Technicians with ropes carefully guide the primary mirror assembly as a crane slowly moves it toward its transport cradle after removal from the SOFIA aircraft

A NASA Technician directs loading of the crated SOFIA primary mirror assembly into a C-17 for shipment to NASA Ames Research Center for finish coating

Technicians gather around the rear of Space Shuttle Endeavour for a safety briefing prior to moving the tail workstand around the shuttle's engines

United Space Alliance technicians wrap the lower portion of an Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit prior to removal from Space Shuttle Endeavour

Space Shuttle Endeavour's drag chute deploys as it rolls down Runway 04-L at Edwards AFB moments after landing on Nov. 30, 2008

Its STS-126 mission over, Space Shuttle Endeavour is surrounded by recovery equipment before being towed off the Edwards Air Force Base runway

Technicians fasten down the flanges of the aerodynamic tail cone after installation on NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour prior to its ferry flight back to Florida

A technician carefully checks the thermal tiles on the underside of Space Shuttle Endeavour for nicks and dings following its landing at Edwards Air Force Base

The Space Shuttle Endeavour is nestled in the Mate-DeMate Device at NASA DFRC as turnaround operations get underway for its ferry flight back to KSC in Florida

Puffy pink clouds form a canopy over the Space Shuttle Endeavour as processing continues in the Mate-Demate Device at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center

Technicians in protective coveralls check pressures of fluid systems during deservicing operations on Space Shuttle Endeavour after its landing at Edwards AFB

NASA technicians position the aerodynamic tailcone around the engine nozzles of the Space Shuttle Endeavour in preparation for its ferry back to KSC in Florida

The modified 747 carrier aircraft carrying the Space Shuttle Endeavour soars aloft from Edwards AFB on the first leg of its ferry flight back to Florida

The modified 747 carrier aircraft carrying the Space Shuttle Endeavour soars aloft from Edwards AFB on the first leg of its ferry flight back to Florida

Under soggy skies on a Sunday morning, the Space Shuttle Endeavour is encased in the Mate-DeMate gantry during turnaround processing at NASA DFRC

Technician Mark Shimei works inside Space Shuttle Endeavour's flight deck during deservicing operations at NASA Dryden following its landing on Nov. 30, 2008

STS-126 pilot Eric Boe inspects the liquid oxygen line connection on the belly of Space Shuttle Endeavour following landing at Edwards Air Force Base Sunday

Space Shuttle Endeavour's drag chute streams behind as it rolls down on Runway 04-L at Edwards AFB to conclude mission STS-126 on Nov. 30, 2008

STS-126 crewmen Eric Boe, Chris Ferguson, Robert Kimbrough and Stephen Bowen pose in front of the Space Shuttle Endeavour following landing Nov. 30, 2008