Airborne Science Operations

NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center operates a fleet of specialized aircraft of 

varied capabilities to support environmental 

and Earth science research missions under the 

Airborne Science Program of the agency's Science Mission Directorate.

As part of the directorate's Earth Science Division, NASA's Airborne Science Program uses 

these unique aircraft and sensors to conduct 

observations and collect atmospheric data, as 

well as advance the use of satellite data. The 

primary objectives of this program include: 

• Conduct in-situ atmospheric measure 

 ments with varying vertical and horizontal 

 resolutions.

• Collect high-resolution imagery for 

 focused process studies and sub-pixel 

 resolution for space-borne calibration.

• Develop new technologies, such as 

 remotely operated unmanned aircraft 

 systems, to expand the capability of air-

 craft to serve as platforms for 

 Earth science. 

• Test new sensor technologies in space-like 

 environments.

• Calibrate/validate space-based measure-

 ments and retrieval algorithms.

Four of the science aircraft are based at NASA 

Armstrong’s Building 703 in Palmdale, 

California. They include a Douglas DC-8 

jetliner converted into a flying science laboratory, two high-altitude Lockheed ER-2s, and a 

Gulfstream C-20A (G-III). A Beechcraft B200 

Super King Air is based at NASA Armstrong's 

main facility in Edwards, California. 

NASA's DC-8 aircraft carries sensors that collect data in support of scientific projects serving 

the world science community. These studies 

include archaeology, ecology, soil science, geography, hydrology, meteorology, atmospheric 

chemistry, oceanography, volcanology, and biology. The four-engine aircraft has been highly 

modified to support NASA's science missions, 

including sensor development and satellite 

DC-8 airborne science laboratory.
FS-2021-08-074 AFRC

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Armstrong Flight Research Center

P.O. Box 273

Edwards, California 93523

NASA Facts

sensor verification. The DC-8 flies at altitudes from 1,000 

to 42,000 feet for up to 12 hours, although most science 

missions last between six and 10 hours. The aircraft has a 

range of 5,400 nautical miles and can carry 30,000 pounds 

of scientific instruments and equipment.

NASA also uses its two Lockheed ER-2 Earth resources 

aircraft as flying laboratories. The single-seat aircraft routinely operate at up to 70,000 feet altitude and acquire data 

above 95% of Earth's atmosphere. The ER-2s participate in 

studies of Earth, celestial observations, atmospheric chemistry and dynamics, and oceanic processes. The aircraft 

are also used for electronic sensor research and development, satellite calibration, and satellite data validation. The 

aircraft fly missions of up to 10 hours and carry maximum 

payloads of 2,600 pounds distributed in the equipment bay 

behind the cockpit, the nose area, and wing-mounted pods.

NASA's C-20A has been modified and instrumented as 

a platform for a variety of Earth science research experiments. The aircraft features a Platform Precision Autopilot 

designed by engineers at NASA Armstrong and a centerline pod that can house various types of sensors such as 

the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar 

(UAVSAR) developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. The autopilot enables the aircraft to follow a desired flight path with an accuracy of less 

than 10 meters at cruise speeds. This capability allows the 

aircraft to conduct repeat passes virtually identical to previously flown flight paths to obtain precision measurements 

using the radar instrument to compare with data obtained on 

prior passes over the same terrain.

NASA Armstrong also operates a modified Beechcraft 

B200 Super King Air for use in both science and aeronautical research. Experimenter power is 28 Volt DC supplied 

through floor panels to hardware as well as to the forward 

and aft nadir ports. The aircraft is equipped with several 

antenna drops and has a satellite communications network 

to support payloads. The B200’s upgraded engines enable 

operation at higher gross weights with payloads up to 1,700 

pounds. Flight altitudes range from 1,000 to 28,000 feet 

with endurance of up to 5 hours. A mission flown at 28,000 

feet with maximum fuel will have an approximate range of 

1,400 nautical miles.

ER-2 Earth resources aircraft.

NASA's C-20A (G-III) with UAVSAR pod.

NASA's B200 Super King Air.