NASA's Vertical Motion Simulator at Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley has been upgraded, the agency reported on August 12, 2026. The simulator, described as the largest of its kind in the world, has supported aviation and spaceflight research since 1979 and can move 60 feet vertically and 40 feet horizontally to replicate vehicles ranging from helicopters to spacecraft.

The upgrades replace analog systems with digital technology. A new dome around the cockpit uses advanced 4K projectors for visuals with nearly 20/20 clarity and a wider field of view. Diana Acosta, chief of the aerospace simulation research and development branch at Ames, said the new configuration can support more demanding mission tasks and a more realistic environment for pilots and crews. The system also can automatically align and color-match images that previously took hours or days to integrate by hand.

Configuration changes that once required swapping out the heavy cab can now use lighter removable inserts containing only the controls, seats and panels needed for a specific vehicle. NASA said this cuts configuration time in half and reduces physical labor. The agency said the upgrades are intended to support testing of next-generation aircraft and spacecraft before flight, citing goals of safer skies, more efficient air travel, and human landings on the Moon and Mars.