{"id":475502,"date":"2023-07-27T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-27T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?post_type=migration&p=475502"},"modified":"2023-12-19T17:14:12","modified_gmt":"2023-12-19T22:14:12","slug":"nasas-er-2-aircraft-flies-high-to-investigate-lightning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/armstrong\/nasas-er-2-aircraft-flies-high-to-investigate-lightning\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA\u2019s ER-2 Aircraft Flies High to Investigate Lightning"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"padding-top-5 padding-bottom-3 width-full maxw-full hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-intro\"><div class=\"width-full maxw-full article-header\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2 width-full maxw-full\"><p class=\"label carbon-60 margin-0 margin-bottom-3 padding-0\">4 min read<\/p><h1 class=\"display-48 margin-bottom-2\">NASA\u2019s ER-2 Aircraft Flies High to Investigate Lightning<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0104-27\/AFRC2023-0104-27~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1280&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0104-27\/AFRC2023-0104-27~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1280&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Aircraft seen from behind in flight against a clear blue sky.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0104-27\/AFRC2023-0104-27~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1280&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1920w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0104-27\/AFRC2023-0104-27~large.jpg?w=300&h=200&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0104-27\/AFRC2023-0104-27~large.jpg?w=768&h=512&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0104-27\/AFRC2023-0104-27~large.jpg?w=1024&h=683&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0104-27\/AFRC2023-0104-27~large.jpg?w=1536&h=1024&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0104-27\/AFRC2023-0104-27~large.jpg?w=400&h=267&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0104-27\/AFRC2023-0104-27~large.jpg?w=600&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0104-27\/AFRC2023-0104-27~large.jpg?w=900&h=600&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0104-27\/AFRC2023-0104-27~large.jpg?w=1200&h=800&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA Armstrong\u2019s ER-2 aircraft deploys for its ALOFT mission. The ER-2 will fly at high altitudes above the Floridian coastline to collect data about the energetic characteristics and behavior of lightning and thunderclouds. A NASA pilot will operate the aircraft while scientists from the University of Bergen, Norway will interpret the data from the ground.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Carla Thomas<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>In July 2023, NASA\u2019s ER-2 aircraft has been flying close to thunderclouds to investigate lightning and its connection to the vast energy fields in our atmosphere. As the highest-flying plane of NASA\u2019s Airborne Science Program, the ER-2 is giving researchers a new angle on storm clouds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Historically, lightning has only been researched by low-flying aircraft or ground observers too far from thunderclouds to examine their detailed characteristics. Satellites like NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/gpm.nasa.gov\/missions\/trmm\" rel=\"noopener\">TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission<\/a>) and NOAA’s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/content\/goes\">GOES (Geostationary Environmental Satellite<\/a>), as well as the Lightning Imaging Sensor on the International Space Station, have measured lightning and related energy discharges from hundreds to thousands of miles above. NASA\u2019s ER-2 airplane, however, can fly at about 60,000 feet (20,000 meters), an ideal altitude and proximity to thunderclouds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientists participating in the ALOFT project \u2013 Airborne Lightning Observatory for Fly\u2019s Eye Simulator and Terrestrial Gamma Rays \u2013 have been using the ER-2 to fly above Central America, the Caribbean, and the coast of Florida, which are hotspots for thunderstorm activity at this time of year. From just above the height of a thundercloud, the team expects to collect detailed data that can advance the study of high-energy radiation emissions from thunderstorms. The field campaign includes instruments and researchers from the University of Birkeland in Norway, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and Goddard Space Flight Center, Sandia National Labs, and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis is a mission to go into the microphysics of what is going on in the enormous electric field above our heads,\u201d said principal investigator Nikolai Ostgaard from the University of Birkeland. \u201cOur goal is to understand how and under what conditions TGFs, or terrestrial gamma-ray flashes, are produced. We also aim to understand the behavior of gamma-ray glows in thunderclouds.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The science behind these glows and flashes is like a battery: a thundercloud is charged by the electric friction between humid air and cold air crystals, and that energy is discharged by lightning. Those discharges reduce the glow of extremely energetic photons — gamma rays — inside the thundercloud. Storm clouds can also produce gamma-ray flashes, which occur as brief bursts of light that last from tens to hundreds of a microsecond and are even more intense than gamma-ray glows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf you pass a thundercloud that is glowing in gamma rays, that means the electric field inside the cloud is very large,\u201d said Ostgaard. The ALOFT science team is observing the gamma-ray activity of thunderclouds by examining this glow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> NASA pilots are flying the ER-2 as close to thunderclouds as safely possible to collect data with Instruments mounted on the aircraft. They measure the brightness of gamma rays (in photons per microsecond) by using scintillators \u2013 or crystals \u2013 that create a light pulse when hit by a gamma ray. A photomultiplier transforms these light pulses into electric pulses that indicate electrical charge. The ALOFT team on the ground receives this data in real time, and if they detect that aircraft is flying near an electrically glowing thundercloud, they instruct the pilot to circle and fly over that cell as long as possible. In addition to the lightning instrumentation, NASA is providing additional measurements from precipitation and cloud radars and microwave radiometers. These additional instruments provide the ability to measure the structures and microphysical properties of storms, which can provide further insight into the mechanisms behind the electric fields. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur instruments are designed with a very high time resolution, so we can see a photon of a lightning flash every microsecond, or millionth of a millisecond,\u201d Ostgaard said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ostgaard is excited for what new insights this data will reveal about lightning and the electric field above us. \u201cIt will open doors to understanding lightning because we do not really understand how these gamma-ray flashes and glows are related to thunderclouds and lightning,\u201d he said. The information gathered will also help scientists and engineers evaluate new design concepts for the next generation of space-based lightning mappers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uib.no\/en\/aloft\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more about the ALOFT project<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers\/armstrong\/aircraft\/ER-2\/index.html\">Learn more about NASA\u2019s ER-2 aircraft<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div 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color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t7 hours ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/aeronautics\/research-model-increases-accuracy\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"192\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/20230608-144923-nasa-ldg-full-model-ls.png?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/20230608-144923-nasa-ldg-full-model-ls.png 3953w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/20230608-144923-nasa-ldg-full-model-ls.png?resize=300,192 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/20230608-144923-nasa-ldg-full-model-ls.png?resize=768,491 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/20230608-144923-nasa-ldg-full-model-ls.png?resize=1024,655 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/20230608-144923-nasa-ldg-full-model-ls.png?resize=1536,983 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/20230608-144923-nasa-ldg-full-model-ls.png?resize=2048,1310 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/20230608-144923-nasa-ldg-full-model-ls.png?resize=400,256 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/20230608-144923-nasa-ldg-full-model-ls.png?resize=600,384 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/20230608-144923-nasa-ldg-full-model-ls.png?resize=900,576 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/20230608-144923-nasa-ldg-full-model-ls.png?resize=1200,768 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/20230608-144923-nasa-ldg-full-model-ls.png?resize=2000,1280 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">4 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Globetrotting NASA Research Model Increases Accuracy<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t15 hours ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/wallops\/nasas-wallops-flight-facility-to-launch-student-experiments\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/wff-2023-068-004.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/wff-2023-068-004.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/wff-2023-068-004.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/wff-2023-068-004.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/wff-2023-068-004.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/wff-2023-068-004.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/wff-2023-068-004.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/wff-2023-068-004.jpg?resize=900,600 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">4 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">NASA\u2019s Wallops Flight Facility to Launch Student Experiments<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/armstrong\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Armstrong Flight Research Center<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1229\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/afrc2018-0020-06_eclipse_composite_cropped-1.jpg?w=1229\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/afrc2018-0020-06_eclipse_composite_cropped-1.jpg 4274w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/afrc2018-0020-06_eclipse_composite_cropped-1.jpg?resize=240,300 240w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/afrc2018-0020-06_eclipse_composite_cropped-1.jpg?resize=768,960 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/afrc2018-0020-06_eclipse_composite_cropped-1.jpg?resize=819,1024 819w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/afrc2018-0020-06_eclipse_composite_cropped-1.jpg?resize=1229,1536 1229w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/afrc2018-0020-06_eclipse_composite_cropped-1.jpg?resize=1639,2048 1639w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/afrc2018-0020-06_eclipse_composite_cropped-1.jpg?resize=320,400 320w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/afrc2018-0020-06_eclipse_composite_cropped-1.jpg?resize=480,600 480w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/afrc2018-0020-06_eclipse_composite_cropped-1.jpg?resize=720,900 720w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/afrc2018-0020-06_eclipse_composite_cropped-1.jpg?resize=960,1200 960w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/afrc2018-0020-06_eclipse_composite_cropped-1.jpg?resize=1600,2000 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1229px) 100vw, 1229px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/armstrong\/programs-projects\/science-projects\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Armstrong Science Projects<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/uavsar20181120b-16.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/uavsar20181120b-16.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/uavsar20181120b-16.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/uavsar20181120b-16.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/uavsar20181120b-16.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/uavsar20181120b-16.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/uavsar20181120b-16.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/uavsar20181120b-16.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/uavsar20181120b-16.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/uavsar20181120b-16.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/armstrong\/capabilities-facilities\/aircraft-at-armstrong\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Aircraft Flown at Armstrong<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1041\" height=\"694\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/afrc2018-0287-046.jpg?w=1041\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/afrc2018-0287-046.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/afrc2018-0287-046.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/afrc2018-0287-046.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/afrc2018-0287-046.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/afrc2018-0287-046.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/afrc2018-0287-046.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/afrc2018-0287-046.jpg?resize=900,600 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/armstrong\/capabilities-facilities\/mission-operations\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Armstrong Mission Operations<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/missionops-afrc2019-0235-12.png?w=840\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/missionops-afrc2019-0235-12.png 840w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/missionops-afrc2019-0235-12.png?resize=168,300 168w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/missionops-afrc2019-0235-12.png?resize=768,1371 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/missionops-afrc2019-0235-12.png?resize=573,1024 573w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/missionops-afrc2019-0235-12.png?resize=224,400 224w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/missionops-afrc2019-0235-12.png?resize=336,600 336w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/missionops-afrc2019-0235-12.png?resize=504,900 504w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/missionops-afrc2019-0235-12.png?resize=672,1200 672w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In July 2023, NASA\u2019s ER-2 aircraft has been flying close to thunderclouds to investigate lightning and its connection to the vast energy fields in our atmosphere. As the highest-flying plane of NASA\u2019s Airborne Science Program, the ER-2 is giving researchers a new angle on storm clouds.  Historically, lightning has only been researched by low-flying aircraft [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":476629,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"54","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":["339741"],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":["283565"],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2855,2660,2842,3361,2834,3326,9424,2821,2820,2878],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[12898],"coauthors":[12146],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"NASA\u2019s ER-2 Aircraft Flies High to Investigate Lightning","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/armstrong\/nasas-er-2-aircraft-flies-high-to-investigate-lightning\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/armstrong\/nasas-er-2-aircraft-flies-high-to-investigate-lightning\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0104-27\/AFRC2023-0104-27~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1280&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0104-27\/AFRC2023-0104-27~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1280&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint"},"articleSection":"NASA Centers & Facilities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Erica Heim"}],"creator":["Erica Heim"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Directorates","Science Mission Directorate","Armstrong Flight Research Center","Aeronautics","Aeronautics Research","DC-8","Earth Science","Earth Science Division","Earth's Atmosphere","NASA Aircraft","Science in the Air"],"dateCreated":"2023-07-27T16:00:00Z","datePublished":"2023-07-27T16:00:00Z","dateModified":"2023-12-19T22:14:12Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"NASA\u2019s ER-2 Aircraft Flies High to Investigate Lightning\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/armstrong\/nasas-er-2-aircraft-flies-high-to-investigate-lightning\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0104-27\/AFRC2023-0104-27~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1280&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2023-07-27T16:00:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Directorates,Science Mission Directorate,Armstrong Flight Research Center,Aeronautics,Aeronautics Research,DC-8,Earth Science,Earth Science Division,Earth's Atmosphere,NASA Aircraft,Science in the Air\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Erica Heim\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":4,"time_ago":"11 months","featured_image":{"id":476629,"file":"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/AFRC2023-0104-27\/AFRC2023-0104-27~large.jpg","title":"NASA\u2019s ER-2 aircraft deploys for ALOFT mission","alt":"","caption":"NASA Armstrong\u2019s ER-2 aircraft deploys for its ALOFT mission.\u00a0 The ER-2 will fly at high altitudes above the Floridian coastline to collect data about the energetic characteristics and behavior of lightning and thunderclouds.\u00a0 A NASA pilot will operate the aircraft while scientists from the University of Bergen, Norway will interpret the data from the ground."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475502"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=475502"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475502\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":478618,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/475502\/revisions\/478618"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/476629"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=475502"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=475502"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=475502"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=475502"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=475502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}