# Armstrong Flight Research Center

> NASA aerospace research center in California, USA

**Wikidata**: [Q305443](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q305443)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armstrong_Flight_Research_Center)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/armstrong-flight-research-center

## Summary
The Armstrong Flight Research Center is a NASA aerospace research facility located at Edwards Air Force Base in California, United States. Established in 1946, it is a primary center for atmospheric flight research and testing. Formerly known as the Dryden Flight Research Center, it was renamed in 2014 in honor of astronaut Neil Armstrong.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center (since March 1, 2014)
- **Location:** Edwards Air Force Base, Kern County, California, USA
- **Coordinates:** 34.95° N, 117.89° W
- **Inception Date:** September 30, 1946
- **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- **Time Zone:** Pacific Time Zone
- **Classification:** NASA facility, research institute, research center
- **Website:** https://www.nasa.gov/armstrong/
- **Twitter Handle:** @NASAArmstrong (verified)
- **Facebook:** nasaarmstrong
- **YouTube Channel:** NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (DrydenTV)
- **ROR ID:** 03em45j53
- **GRID ID:** grid.455981.4
- **ISNI:** 0000 0001 0805 6998
- **VIAF ID:** 127285651
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** no2014027108
- **Short Name:** AFRC (since 2014), DFRC (1976–2014)

## FAQs
### Q: Why was the center renamed to Armstrong Flight Research Center?
The center was renamed on March 1, 2014, in honor of Neil Armstrong, the first human to walk on the Moon. The renaming paid tribute to Armstrong's contributions to aerospace and his connection to flight research.

### Q: What was the Armstrong Flight Research Center called before 2014?
From 1976 to 2014, it was named the Dryden Flight Research Center after Hugh L. Dryden, a prominent aeronautical scientist. Prior to 1976, it held several names including the NASA Flight Research Center, the NASA High-Speed Flight Station, and the NACA High-Speed Flight Research Station, dating back to its original founding as the Muroc Flight Test Unit in 1946.

### Q: Where is the Armstrong Flight Research Center located?
The center is situated within Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County, California, United States.

### Q: What is the primary purpose of the Armstrong Flight Research Center?
As a NASA facility and research institute, its primary function is to conduct aerospace research. This includes atmospheric flight research and testing new aviation and space technologies.

## Why It Matters
The Armstrong Flight Research Center is a critical hub for NASA's aeronautical research. As a dedicated research institute, it focuses on advancing atmospheric flight technologies, contributing to both aviation safety and space exploration capabilities. Its renaming in 2014 to honor Neil Armstrong solidified its symbolic connection to historic achievements in flight. The center operates under NASA, functioning as a key component of the United States' aerospace infrastructure and contributing to the global body of aeronautical knowledge.

## Notable For
- Being a primary NASA facility for atmospheric flight research.
- Its historical legacy dating back to 1946 as the Muroc Flight Test Unit.
- Being renamed after Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the Moon.
- Formerly honoring Hugh L. Dryden, a pioneer in aeronautical science.
- Its location at Edwards Air Force Base, a historic site for flight testing.
- Holding the classification of both a research institute and a research center.

## Body

### History and Naming
The facility was established on September 30, 1946, as the Muroc Flight Test Unit. It underwent several name changes as it transitioned from the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) to NASA and shifted research focus:
- **Muroc Flight Test Unit** (September 30, 1946 – November 14, 1949)
- **NACA High-Speed Flight Research Station** (November 14, 1949 – July 1, 1954)
- **NACA High-Speed Flight Station** (July 1, 1954 – October 1, 1958)
- **NASA High-Speed Flight Station** (October 1, 1958 – September 27, 1959)
- **NASA Flight Research Center** (September 27, 1959 – March 26, 1976)
- **NASA Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Center** (March 26, 1976 – October 1, 1981)
- **Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility** (October 1, 1981 – March 1, 1994)
- **Dryden Flight Research Center** (March 1, 1994 – March 1, 2014)

On March 1, 2014, the center was renamed the **Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center** in honor of the Apollo 11 astronaut. The center had previously been named for Hugh Latimer Dryden from 1976 until the 2014 change.

### Location and Operations
The Armstrong Flight Research Center is headquartered at **Edwards Air Force Base** in **Kern County, California**, within the United States. The precise geographic coordinates are 34.95194444444444° N latitude and -117.88555555555556° W longitude. It operates within the **Pacific Time Zone**.

The center is a **NASA facility** and is classified as both a **research institute** and a **research center**. Its parent organization is the **National Aeronautics and Space Administration**.

### Digital Presence and Identifiers
The center maintains a significant digital footprint:
- **Website:** https://www.nasa.gov/armstrong/
- **Social Media:**
    - Twitter: @NASAArmstrong (verified account, over 400,000 followers as of 2023).
    - Facebook: nasaarmstrong
    - YouTube: Channel ID UCLsYrDS9jYL_dO1g8qe2ctw (NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center / DrydenTV).
- **Academic and Database Identifiers:**
    - **GRID ID:** grid.455981.4
    - **ROR ID:** 03em45j53
    - **ISNI:** 0000 0001 0805 6998
    - **VIAF ID:** 127285651
    - **Library of Congress Authority ID:** no2014027108
    - **Open Funder Registry ID:** 100007346
    - **Ringgold ID:** 53521

The center's official logo has been in use since March 2014. An aerial view of the facility captured on October 13, 2008, is available in its media files. The facility is also listed on Yelp as NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/Features/whats_in_a_name.html)
2. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/february/nasa-honors-astronaut-neil-armstrong-with-center-renaming/)
3. GRID Release 2017-01-10
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Czech National Authority Database
6. [Source](https://figshare.com/articles/GRID_release_2015_12_14/2010108)
7. GRID Release 2016-12-06
8. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
9. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
10. YouTube API