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Home : Our Work : Areas of Research : Plasma Physics

    Plasma Physics
Phone: (202) 767-5635

 

Overview

The Plasma Physics Division conducts broad theoretical and experimental programs of basic and applied research in plasma physics, laboratory discharge, and space plasmas, intense electron and ion beams and photon sources, atomic physics, pulsed power sources, laser physics, advanced spectral diagnostics, and nonlinear systems. 

The effort of the Division is concentrated on a few closely coordinated theoretical and experimental programs. Considerable emphasis is placed on large-scale numerical simulations related to plasma dynamics; ionospheric, magnetospheric, and atmospheric dynamics; nuclear weapons effects; inertial confinement fusion; atomic physics; plasma processing; nonlinear dynamics and chaos; free electron lasers and other advanced radiation sources; advanced accelerator concepts; and atmospheric laser propagation.

Core Capabilities 

  • Radiation Hydrodynamics - The principal emphasis is in the development and application of theoretical models and state-of-the-art numerical simulations combining magnetohydrodynamics, high energy density physics, atomic and radiation physics, and spectroscopy.
  • Laser Plasma - Primary areas of research include physics underpinnings of laser fusion, high-energy-gain laser-inertial- fusion target designs, experiments and simulations of laser-matter interactions at high intensity, advancing the science and technologies of high-energy krypton fluoride and argon fluoride lasers, advancing the technologies of durable high-repetition-rate pulse power and electron-beam diodes for laser pumping and other applications, laser fusion as a power source.
  • Space and Laboratory Plasmas - Space research includes theoretical, numerical, and laboratory and space experimental investigations of the dynamic behavior of the near-Earth space plasmas and radiation belts, and the modification of space plasmas for strategic effects on HF communications, satellite navigation, over-the-horizon radar, and UHF satellite communications.  Applications-oriented plasma research is performed in the production, characterization, and use of low-temperature plasmas and related technology for applications to advance capabilities across the Navy and DOD.  Pulsed-power investigations include electromagnetic launch science and technology and research on directed energy systems for the U.S. Navy.
  • Pulsed Power Physics - Experimental and theoretical research is performed to advance pulsed power driven accelerator technology in areas relevant to defense applications. Research concerns the production, transport, characterization, and modeling of pulsed plasmas and intense high-power, charged particle beams using terawatt-class hundred-kilojoule pulsed power systems that employ capacitive or inductive energy storage and advanced switching. 
  • Directed Energy Physics - Research encompasses the integration of theoretical/computational and experimental research relevant to DOD, ONR, DARPA, and DoE in the areas of ultra-high field laser physics, atmospheric propagation of intense lasers, advanced radiation and accelerator physics, laser-generated plasma-microwave interactions, and dynamics of nonlinear systems. 

Facilities Fact Sheets

  • Electra Experimental Lab Facility - Electron beam pumped laser.  [ Download PDF]
  • NIKE KrF Laser Target Facility.  [Download PDF]
  • Space Plasma Simulation Chamber.  [Download PDF]

Plasma Physics News

NEWS | July 1, 2026

Forging the Fleet Since 1923

By Emily Winget, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Corporate Communications

WASHINGTON  –   For 103 years, the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has stood as the premier scientific engine for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and the Department of War (DoW). From the depths of the ocean to the vastness of space, NRL scientists and engineers consistently push the boundaries of what's possible. By delivering unmatched science and technology, the laboratory ensures a decisive, asymmetric technological edge for the warfighter and provides groundbreaking solutions to our most complex global security challenges.
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
SLIDESHOW | images | NRL Hexapod The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
SLIDESHOW | images | NRL Fire Demo The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Download Download Image Link Image Details
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
Download Download Image Link Image Details
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Download Download Image Link Image Details
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Download Download Image Link Image Details
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Download Download Image Link Image Details
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Download Download Image Link Image Details
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Download Download Image Link Image Details
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
SLIDESHOW | images | Photonic Integrated Circuit An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
SLIDESHOW | images | X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
SLIDESHOW | images | Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
SLIDESHOW | images | Electrospray Ionization Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Download Download Image Link Image Details
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
SLIDESHOW | images | NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
SLIDESHOW | images | Nanoscale Materials Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
SLIDESHOW | images | Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
SLIDESHOW | images | Electromagnetic Railgun Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
SLIDESHOW | images | Clementine The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
SLIDESHOW | images | USNA Physics Club Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
SLIDESHOW | images | Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
SLIDESHOW | images | Ashley Fulton Environmental Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
SLIDESHOW | images | Neutron Scattering A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
SLIDESHOW | images | U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
SLIDESHOW | images | Cluster System Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
SLIDESHOW | images | Microbial Biomanufacturing Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
SLIDESHOW | images | CCOR-2 U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
SLIDESHOW | images | NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
SLIDESHOW | images | VXS-1 Flying Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
SLIDESHOW | images | Solid-Fuel Ramjets Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
SLIDESHOW | images | Solid-Fuel Ramjets Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
SLIDESHOW | images | Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
SLIDESHOW | images | VXS-1 Flying Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
SLIDESHOW | images | LASCO LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
SLIDESHOW | images | LASCO The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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Vanguard Project
SLIDESHOW | images | 580317-N-NO204-1958 NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
NRL Hexapod 1 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Distributed Autonomous Systems Group demonstrates how a hexapod can maneuver through different terrains at NRL in Washington, D.C., Jul. 20, 2021. The hexapod tracks human movement in order to fulfill military communication needs. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
NRL Fire Demo 2 of 28
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Safety & Survivability team conduct a fire demonstration using a commercially available fluorine-free foam product at NRL’s Chesapeake Bay Detachment, MD., Aug. 21, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Gayle Fullerton) RELEASED
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An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Photonic Integrated Circuit 3 of 28
An active photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is displayed on a semiconductor wafer in Washington, D.C. May 17, 2024. The active PIC is designed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and offers a simpler approach to signal processing by using optical fibers to process microwave signals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
X-Band Gallium Nitride Phased Array 4 of 28
A U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) X-band gallium nitride phased array awaits testing in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2026. The NRL designed device converts solar energy to a focused microwave beam with unprecedented conversion efficiency and has power beaming applications to provide warfighters with continuous electrical power anywhere at any time. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) 5 of 28
Kevin Marquez Diaz, a contract Materials Engineer, instructs personnel from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) as they participate in Insertable Stalk Inspection System (ISIS360) training prior to a main ballast tank inspection aboard USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), January 2026. ISIS360 is a non-human entry inspection system designed to improve the safety and efficiency of shipboard tank inspections. (U.S. Navy photo) RELEASED
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Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
Electrospray Ionization 6 of 28
Mark Romanczyk, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory analytical chemist, uses an electrospray ionization source to monitor potential arcing in Washington, D.C., Oct. 25, 2024. Elimination of arcing reduces ion fragmentation and promotes accurate elemental composition assignments of ions. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
NRL Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering 7 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)-National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with NRL’s Chemistry Division, Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering, Alex Johnson, studies the impact of corrosion from saltwater aerosols at the NRL Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) Littoral Bay Wave Pool, in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24, 2024. RELEASED
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Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Nanoscale Materials 8 of 28
Andrew Lang, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory materials research engineer, loads a sample cartridge for imaging and analysis in Washington, D.C. Feb. 15, 2024. Sample cartridges are loaded into a state-of-the-art electron microscope that allows researchers to see the arrangement of atoms and develop new classes of materials to improve technologies such as microwave communications and power electronics. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser 9 of 28
NRL Nike Laser Achieves Spot in Guinness World Records; A set of experiments conducted on the Nike krypton fluoride (KrF) laser at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) nearly five years ago has, at long last, earned the coveted Guinness World Records title for achieving “Highest Projectile Velocity” of greater than 1,000 kilometers per second (km/s), a speed equivalent to two-and-a-quarter million miles per hour. Images of the Nike laser facility - the world's highest energy KrF laser, and of the team that helped achieve record highest projectile velocity. (U.S. Navy photo by Jamie Hartman) RELEASED
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Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
Electromagnetic Railgun 10 of 28
Without the need for dangerous explosives storage and handling, the Electromagnetic Railgun can potentially reach targets 20 times farther than conventional weapons. RELEASED
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The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
Clementine 11 of 28
The Deep Space Program Science Experiment (DSPSE), better known as “Clementine,” was developed and built by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Launched January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Clementine’s primary mission was in-space testing of advanced technologies for high-tech, lightweight missile defense. The relatively inexpensive, rapidly built spacecraft constituted a major revolution in spacecraft management and design and also contributed significantly to lunar studies. RELEASED
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Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
USNA Physics Club 12 of 28
Allen O’Hara, facility manager for the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), leads midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Physics Club on a tour of NRL’s Tropical High Bay in Washington, March 25, 2026. The unique facility allows researchers to test new technology against real-world environmental conditions, ensuring naval systems are reliable and ready for deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson) RELEASED
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Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127
Olufolasade Atoyebi, Code 6127 13 of 28
Olufolasade Atoyebi, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory postdoctoral researcher, loads samples of tyrosine and disodium tyrosine powder into an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) plate in Washington, D.C. August 18, 2022. Atoyebi prepares the XPS plate in order to analyze the elemental composition and chemical states present in the samples. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Ashley Fulton Environmental 14 of 28
Ashley Fulton, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory research chemist, uses an ion mobility spectrometer to test a vapor generated from a trace explosive sensor testbed in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2025. Fulton’s research explores the development of non-contact fentanyl detection to increase the safety of first responders. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Neutron Scattering 15 of 28
A rope of argon plasma extends between two magnetrons at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2026. NRL scientists use this magnetron sputter system to synthesize epitaxial thin films for new materials discovery. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 24, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Develops Anatomically Accurate Rat Brain Phantom for Traumatic Brain Injury Research 16 of 28
NRL scientist Margo Staruch, Ph.D., working with the University of Virginia Commonwealth, has developed the first anatomically accurate rat brain phantom capable of measuring traumatic brain injury (TBI) impacts in real time. The breakthrough model replicates the mechanical properties of brain tissue while embedding a piezoelectric sensor that converts impact forces directly into measurable electrical signals, offering unprecedented insight into how blast waves and impacts propagate through the brain. November 25, 2025, Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy Photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Cluster System 17 of 28
Nicholas Sirica, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory physicist, tunes a monochromator for an ultraviolet light source to characterize materials in a cluster system in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18, 2025. Sirica uses the cluster system to grow and characterize quantum materials for the fabrication of nanoscale devices with unique functionalities. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Microbial Biomanufacturing 18 of 28
Tiffany Hennessa (left), Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and Zheng Wang, Ph.D., NRL research biologist, analyze a microbial sample in Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2026. Scientists at NRL sent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate how microgravity affects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
CCOR-2 19 of 28
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Senior Electrical Technician, Renzo Benites completes final grounding of the Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) after integration on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
NRL’s LASCO Marks 30 Years Transforming Solar Science and Strengthening National Security 20 of 28
At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 21 of 28
Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 supports the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory by conducting flight operations in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
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Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 22 of 28
Clayton Geipel, Ph.D., U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer, adjusts fittings on an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner at NRL’s Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. Researchers and engineers at NRL use an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
Solid-Fuel Ramjets 23 of 28
Featured are composite fuel slabs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Combustion Lab in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, Jan. 15, 2026. The fuel slabs contain a polymer binder, featuring carbon black (left) to increase its absorption of radiant energy and aluminum (right) to increase its energy density. Researchers and engineers at NRL use these fuel slabs with an optically-accessible solid-fuel slab burner to perform combustion experiments at conditions relevant to solid-fuel ramjet flight. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Sunderman)
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The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
Plasma Physics 60th Anniversary 24 of 28
The Space Physics Simulation chamber. A large vacuum chamber that can recreate plasma conditions in space to study basic plasma physics phenomena and test hardware operation in a simulated environment before flight. (U.S. Navy photo)
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Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals.
VXS-1 Flying 25 of 28
Lt. Avery Nwokike, Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 pilot, flies an RC-12M in Patuxent River, Md. May 2, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology (S&T) priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen-Arnold)
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LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
LASCO 26 of 28
LASCO undergoes testing at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., 1993. (U.S. Navy historical photo)
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(U.S. Navy Photo)
LASCO 27 of 28
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launch from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl, Dec. 2, 1995. (U.S. Navy Photo)
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Vanguard Project
580317-N-NO204-1958 28 of 28
NRL Engineers place Vanguard I atop the third stage of the launching vehicle. Shown here (l-r), Roger L. Easton, Sandy J. Smith, Robert C. Bauman, and Joseph B. Schwartz (Bauman and Schwartz transferred with the Vanguard Project to NASA). On March 17, 1958 Vanguard I started its historic journey into space. (US Navy Photo/Released)
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This year’s 103rd anniversary is uniquely significant as it coincides with the 250th birthday of the United States. The shared history of our nation and NRL is driven by individuals with relentless curiosity, ingenuity, and perseverance. Across all NRL locations—from the main campus in Washington, D.C., to the dedicated detachments in Stennis, Mississippi, Key West, Florida, and Monterey, California—generations of scientists, engineers, technicians, and military personnel have fearlessly tackled the hard questions to solve seemingly impossible problems. Their dedication to a mission greater than themselves serves as the bedrock that keeps the Joint Force at the forefront of naval and military science.

Since its founding in 1923 at the urging of Thomas Edison, the laboratory has served as the Navy’s corporate research center, bridging the gap between fundamental science and operational reality. Over the past century, NRL has continuously adapted to the evolving landscape of defense, transitioning pioneering research into critical maritime and aerospace capabilities.

Whether operating in the ocean depths, projecting power on the battlefield, securing the complexities of cyberspace, or pioneering defense capabilities in orbit, NRL carries on a proud tradition; rapidly transitioning bold ideas into tangible, fielded capabilities that keep our Sailors, Marines, and DoW personnel ready to dominate the challenges of today and tomorrow.

As the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory celebrates 103 years of excellence, it honors a century of paradigm-shifting achievements and looks forward to a future filled with discovery. The dedicated men and women of NRL remain steadfast in their commitment to deliver innovation for the Navy, Marine Corps, and the Nation, ensuring technological superiority, strategic deterrence, and a safer world for generations to come.

About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

NRL is a scientific and engineering command dedicated to research that drives innovative advances for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from the seafloor to space and in the information domain. NRL is located in Washington, D.C. with major field sites in Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Key West, Florida; Monterey, California.

NRL offers several mechanisms for collaborating with the broader scientific community, within and outside of the Federal government. These include Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), LP-CRADAs, Educational Partnership Agreements, agreements under the authority of 10 USC 4892, licensing agreements, FAR contracts, and other applicable agreements.

For more information, contact NRL Corporate Communications at (202) 480-3746 or nrlpao@nrl.navy.mil. Please reference package number at top of press release.
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