{"id":435254,"date":"2026-05-23T01:45:38","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T15:45:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=998511"},"modified":"2026-05-23T01:45:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T15:45:38","slug":"keeping-nasa-flying-ground-crews-ensure-aircraft-readiness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=435254","title":{"rendered":"Keeping NASA Flying: Ground Crews Ensure Aircraft Readiness"},"content":{"rendered":"
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4 min read<\/p>\n

Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"The<\/a><\/figure>
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NASA crew chief Walt Kondracki checks an F-15 aircraft Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Ground crews, made of various roles, maintain the aircraft to be ready for each mission.<\/div>\n
NASA\/Carla Escamilla<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

From high\u2011speed research flights to high\u2011altitude science campaigns, NASA depends on aircraft that perform at their best and the ground crews who keep them mission ready.<\/p>\n

At NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, specially trained maintenance crews are essential to keeping the agency\u2019s aircraft flying<\/a> safely and reliably.<\/p>\n

This year, NASA added two F-15s<\/a> and a Pilatus PC-12<\/a> to its fleet at Armstrong. These aircraft \u2013 alongside platforms such as the high-altitude ER-2s<\/a> and NASA\u2019s newest X-plane, the X-59<\/a> \u2013 reflect a wide range of capabilities. The maintenance staff is responsible for keeping each one mission ready.<\/p>\n

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\"Three<\/a><\/figure>
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NASA pilot Nils Larson, left, walks next to crew chief Walt Kondracki, right, by an F-15 aircraft Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, at NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. In the background, NASA mechanic Tim Logan secures the cockpit inside of the F-15, and flight test engineer A.J. Jaffe stands to the right.<\/div>\n
NASA\/Christopher LC Clark<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the beauty of our Armstrong maintenance teams. They adapt to any type of change,\u201d said Jose \u201cManny\u201d Rodriguez, NASA Armstrong Gulfstream G-IV crew chief. \u201cOne day you could have an instrument being loaded, and the next day it may be aircraft reconfiguration, all while other aircraft systems may need fixing. They adapt and they overcome any situation.\u201d <\/p>\n

Each aircraft supports a specific mission, whether it\u2019s conducting science research, serving as a support or chase aircraft, or assisting NASA rocket launches. The aircraft fly at different speeds, carry specialized hardware, and require maintenance crews to stay agile with fast-paced changes.<\/p>\n

To ensure NASA can make aeronautics and science advancements safely, the crews work continuously, checking on the ejection seats, filling the tanks with fuel, and changing out brakes, wheels, wiring, and hardware constantly, all of which can degrade with each flight.<\/p>\n

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From left, NASA avionics technician Jesse Orellana; quality assurance employee Jose Prieto; mechanic Francisco Rodriguez; and mechanic Vincent Moreno work on an ER-2 aircraft Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, at NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.<\/div>\n
NASA\/Christopher LC Clark<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

On any given day, an aircraft may be flight-ready for a mission, undergoing scheduled maintenance or modifications, or down for longer-term care.<\/p>\n

There are typically multiple NASA Armstrong aircraft in the air in one day. Currently, the center\u2019s C-20A is flying in Peru and Panama<\/a>, the X-59 is often  flying twice per day<\/a> with a chase plane, and the center\u2019s ER-2 is flying in Colorado, supporting the Geological Earth Mapping Experiment (GEMx<\/a>). All this work is happening at the same time, and Armstrong\u2019s skilled maintenance staff is prepping and fixing aircraft as needed along the way.<\/p>\n

The team includes mechanics with both military and civilian backgrounds, and the job involves a lot of on-the-job training.<\/p>\n

Maintenance crews are composed of:<\/p>\n