DC-8 Flying Laboratory Of NASA

DC-8 Flying Laboratory Of NASA:

NASA has begun conducting marathon research flights across Asia in order to improve air pollution forecasting models.

• The flights aim to collect detailed data on air pollution sources and behavior to enhance warning systems for the public. Millions of deaths each year are linked to air pollution.
• The flights involve NASA’s DC-8 flying laboratory, the world’s largest aircraft designed for airborne science missions.
• The DC-8 is flying for up to 8 hours at a time, sometimes as low as 15 meters above the ground, to collect air pollution particles for analysis.
• The research flights can “provide direct measurements of how much pollution is coming from different sources.”
• This data is critical for the air quality forecasting models that inform pollution warnings and policies.
• The DC-8 can help fill gaps and improve satellite data interpretation.
• By combining data from air, ground, and space, the project can lead to more accurate forecasting models.