GREENBELT, MD. — NASA ceremonially transferred ownership of approximately 105 acres of land at its Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, to the Patuxent Research Refuge on July 7, 2026. The interagency transfer of the property became effective in February of the same year.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik and NASA Goddard Center Director Jamie Dunn signed certificates to finalize the transfer during the ceremony. The Patuxent Research Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is the nation's only refuge specifically established to support wildlife research.

The transferred property, previously known as NASA Goddard's Area 400, was used for propellant research by the center beginning in the 1960s. Prior to the transfer, Area 400 encompassed a two-and-a-half-acre clearing containing 11 small structures, with the remainder of the parcel being wooded.

NASA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began discussions regarding a potential transfer of the property in 2021. During the July 7 ceremony, guests participated in a monarch butterfly release and milkweed seed dispersal.

"For over six decades, NASA Goddard has helped shape humanity's understanding of Earth," Dunn said. "We're glad to present this land to our colleagues in the Fish and Wildlife Service, whose conservation and research helps do the real legwork in preserving our Blue Marble for future generations."

The Patuxent Research Refuge currently comprises nearly 13,000 acres of woodland. It supports recreational activities such as walking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, and hunting.