Tag

Er 2 Aircraft

All articles tagged with #er 2 aircraft

science-and-astronomy2 years ago•3 min saved

"NASA and USGS Collaborate to Map Strategic Minerals in Desert Regions"

NASA's ER-2 aircraft, based on the U-2 spy plane, are being used in the GEMx mission to locate strategic minerals in the American desert. The mission aims to increase the US's knowledge of critical minerals and reduce dependence on foreign supplies, particularly from China. Equipped with special sensors, the ER-2 flies at high altitudes, collecting hyperspectral images to identify potential mineral deposits. The Biden-Harris administration has prioritized expanding domestic mineral supply, and the GEMx project is expected to cost $16 million and continue until fall 2026.

via Space.com|

#er-2-aircraft #gemx-mission #minerals

science-and-technology2 years ago•5 min saved

Unraveling Thundercloud Mysteries: NASA's ER-2 Takes Flight

NASA's ER-2 aircraft, as part of the ALOFT project, flew near thunderclouds in July 2023 to study the relationship between lightning and atmospheric energy fields. Operating at a unique altitude of 60,000 feet, the aircraft collected detailed data on high-energy radiation emissions from thunderstorms, aiming to deepen our understanding of gamma-ray flashes and advance space-based lightning mapping technologies. The research involved instruments and researchers from the University of Bergen, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, Sandia National Labs, and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.

via SciTechDaily|

#aloft-project #er-2-aircraft #lightning