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NEWS | February 16, 2012

NASA Aircraft to Trek Globe in 2012 for Earth Studies

Multiple aircraft and specialized instruments, including several from JPL, will operate in the United States, Europe, Asia and South America this year in support of studies conducted by NASA and the Earth science community, improving scientists' understanding of our planet. NASA's Airborne Science Program and its flight campaigns play a key role in the development of both hardware and algorithms for future satellite missions, including JPL's planned Soil Moisture Active-Passive (SMAP) and Surface Water Ocean Topography (SWOT) missions, among others.

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A large, miles-long crack is plainly visible across the ice shelf on the Pine Island Glacier during an overflight by NASA's DC-8 airborne science laboratory on Oct. 14, 2011, as part of Operation IceBridge, one of a number of NASA airborne Earth science missions flying in 2012. A large, miles-long crack is plainly visible across the ice shelf on the Pine Island Glacier during an overflight by NASA’s DC-8 airborne science laboratory on Oct. 14, 2011, as part of Operation IceBridge, one of a number of NASA airborne Earth science missions flying in 2012. Image credit: NASA/Michael Studinger