UNOS-NASA partnership in the news
“This partnership shows what’s possible when innovation and mission-driven health care come together. By combining NASA’s aeronautics capabilities with UNOS’ transplant expertise, we can explore new approaches that may one day help reduce organ transport time and cost, improve efficiency and ultimately save and transform more lives.”
– Mark Johnson, UNOS Interim Chief Executive Officer
UNOS press releases
UNOS, NASA and LifeNet partner on successful drone transportation of organ
Teams from the United Network for Organ Sharing, NASA Langley Research Center and LifeNet Health have successfully completed a groundbreaking study transporting human kidneys by drone beyond visual line of sight, marking a milestone in the future of organ transportation and transplantation.
UNOS partners with NASA to study transporting organs by drone
UNOS partners with NASA to study how drones could safely and efficiently transport organs for transplant.
UNOS-NASA partnership media coverage
June 30, 2026
Drones could deliver organs
Drones could be a viable way to make transportation of potentially life-saving donated kidneys more efficient, according to a recent study conducted at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.
June 28, 2026
Drone’s transporting organs? It could be more efficient, NASA Langley study shows
Tests conducted at NASA's Langley Research Center show that drones can carry lifesaving organ transplants without damaging the organs themselves.
June 27, 2026
NASA just flew a human kidney, and transplant medicine may never look the same
A human kidney flew across NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., on June 5, and the real story begins with what didn't happen.
June 27, 2026
NASA used a drone to deliver a human kidney. Is this the future of transplant transport?
NASA is hoping to use drones to speed up organ delivery for transplant patients.
June 27, 2026
NASA used a drone to deliver a human kidney. Is this the future of transplant transport?
NASA is hoping to use drones to speed up organ delivery for transplant patients.
June 26, 2026
NASA Langley flew donated kidneys 7.5 miles by drone, and the aircraft it chose says everything
NASA researchers in Hampton, Virginia, put two human kidneys on a heavy-lift drone and flew them in 7.5-mile loops beyond the operator’s line of sight, then biopsied the organs to check for damage.
June 24, 2026
Drones transporting organs? It could be more efficient, NASA Langley study shows
Drones could be a viable way to make transportation of potentially life-saving donated kidneys more efficient, according to a recent study conducted at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.
June 24, 2026
Drones transporting organs? It could be more efficient, NASA Langley study shows
Organ transportation is a race against time. Drones may be able to help.
June 22, 2026
Human organs transported by drone in NASA BVLOS trial
Teams from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), NASA Langley Research Center and LifeNet Health have successfully transported human kidneys by drone beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).
June 20, 2026
NASA just flew human kidneys by BVLOS drone
NASA, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), and nonprofit tissue bank LifeNet Health have successfully completed what they are calling a first-of-its-kind study: transporting human kidneys by drone beyond visual line of sight.
June 20, 2026
Drone-transported organ donations: LifeNet Health completed unique drone kidney transport
LifeNet Health, in collaboration with NASA Langley Research Center and the United Network for Organ Sharing, has successfully completed the First-of-Its-Kind Drone Kidney Transport study.
June 16, 2026
NASA, UNOS, and LifeNet Health complete historic drone kidney transport trial
Teams from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), NASA Langley Research Center, and LifeNet Health successfully completed a groundbreaking study transporting human kidneys by drone beyond visual line of sight, marking a major milestone in the future of organ transportation and transplantation.
June 15, 2026
A Lifeline from the sky: Drones poised to revolutionize organ transplants
Against the backdrop of a relentless public health crisis where 13 Americans die each day waiting for an organ, a quiet revolution is taking flight.
June 15, 2026
NASA, UNOS and LifeNet complete successful BVLOS drone flights carrying human kidneys
A new research collaboration between the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), NASA Langley Research Center, and LifeNet Health has demonstrated the successful transportation of human kidneys by drone beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), marking a significant step in exploring new methods for organ transportation.
June 15, 2026
LifeNet Health, NASA, and UNOS complete first-of-its-kind drone kidney transport study to help save more lives
Teams from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), NASA Langley Research Center, and LifeNet Health successfully completed a groundbreaking study transporting human kidneys by drone beyond visual line of sight, marking a major milestone in the future of organ transportation and transplantation.
June 15, 2026
LifeNet Health, NASA, and UNOS complete first-of-its-kind drone kidney transport study to help save more lives
LifeNet Health, NASA, and UNOS complete first-of-its-kind drone study.
June 15, 2026
Innovative study on drone kidney transport showcases potential to revolutionize organ transplantation
In a pioneering study, teams from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), NASA Langley Research Center, and LifeNet Health have made a significant stride in organ transportation by successfully transporting human kidneys via drone.
June 15, 2026
UNOS, NASA and LifeNet complete drone flight tests for organ transport
NASA's Langley Research Center, UNOS and LifeNet Health, the federally designated organ procurement organization for Virginia, have completed flight tests transporting human kidneys by drone, with flights conducted beyond visual line of sight, the organizations announced June 15.
June 15, 2026
UNOS, NASA and LifeNet complete successful BVLOS drone flight carrying human kidneys
Study examines potential role of drones in future transplant logistics.
June 5, 2026
NASA Langley conducts first-of-its-kind drone test with human organ
Kidney flown on drone beyond visual line of sight.
June 5, 2026
Drone-based organ transport test in Hampton marks new era in organ delivery
NASA Langley Research Center and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) recently partnered to conduct a drone-based organ transport test at NASA Langley in Hampton.
May 19, 2026
NASA is testing organ drone delivery
Fresh off the Artemis II mission, NASA turns its attention toward healthcare.
May 18, 2026
NASA is officially testing drones to deliver human organs
Fresh off the Artemis II mission, NASA turns its attention toward healthcare.
May 12, 2026
NASA partners with drone operators to speed organ transplant deliveries
NASA partners with drone operators to slash organ delivery time and boost transplant outcomes.
April 30, 2026
NASA looks to help speed delivery of organ transplant transfers
A new partnership aims to speed up organ transplant deliveries.
April 28, 2026
NASA and UNOS to test drone transport of organs
UNOS has announced a new partnership with NASA to advance the study of how drone technology could make organ transport safer, faster and more efficient.
April 27, 2026
NASA and UNOS to test drone transport of organs
Researchers at the Langley Research Center are testing whether drones could deliver organs to hospitals, a move that could reduce critical delays in transplants.
April 25, 2026
NASA is sending organs by drone, and it actually makes sense
Most government partnerships come down to bureaucracy and grant justifications. This one is different.
April 24, 2026
Richmond nonprofit teams up with NASA on organ delivery drones
Richmond nonprofit teams up with NASA on organ delivery.
April 22, 2026
NASA to test drone delivery of donor organs
The nation's troubled organ transplant system may be about to get some help from above.
April 22, 2026
NASA to pilot drones for organ transplants
NASA and the United Network for Organ Sharing are testing the use of drones in organ transport, according to an April 21 news release.
April 22, 2026
UNOS and NASA partner to study drone organ transport
UNOS and NASA launch a joint study to examine how UAV flights affect organ viability and how drones could improve transplant logistics nationwide.
April 22, 2026
Your organ donation could be delivered by a NASA drone one day
Could lifesaving organs be delivered to U.S. hospitals by NASA drones one day?