GoKawiilNASA unveils Artemis-themed livery on a T-38 astronaut training jet
NASA has repainted one of its T-38 supersonic training jets with a new black-and-white design featuring blue and red stripes, the Artemis program logo, and Moon graphics on the rear fuselage. The design, proposed by pilot Sean Brady of the Aircraft Operations Division at Johnson Space Center, was applied during the jet's scheduled repainting rather than for any special ceremony. The aircraft, tail number N924NA, is now the only one of NASA's 14 active T-38s that doesn't wear the agency's traditional blue-stripe livery.
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The T-38 has served as NASA's astronaut training aircraft since 1962, making its look a quiet but enduring symbol of the space program. Updating one jet's paint scheme to reflect the Artemis Moon missions signals how the agency is folding its new lunar ambitions into even routine operational details, reinforcing public and internal focus on returning astronauts to the Moon.
- NASA gave one of its 14 active T-38 training jets a new Artemis-themed paint job.
- The design was created by pilot Sean Brady and applied during routine maintenance repainting.
- The jet, N924NA, is now the only T-38 in NASA's fleet without the classic blue-stripe livery.
Northrop T-38 Talon Model Airplane — If NASA's freshly repainted "white rocket" caught your eye, a desktop T-38 Talon model puts the astronaut trainer on your shelf. These display models come mounted on a stand and capture the Talon's slim delta-wing profile that's been ferrying astronauts for decades.
See Northrop T-38 Talon Model Airplane on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: arstechnica.com, 2026-08-27
Published there as: “The iconic T-38 jets flown by astronauts just got a spiffy new look”
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