Airborne Platforms to Advance NASA Earth System Science Priorities: Assessing the Future Need for a Large Aircraft
English
By (author): and Medicine Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Committee on Future Use of NASA Airborne Platforms to Advance Earth Science Priorities Division on Earth and Life Studies Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences Engineering National Academies of Sciences Space Studies Board
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other U.S. science research agencies operate a fleet of research aircraft and other airborne platforms that offer diverse capabilities. To inform NASA's future investments in airborne platforms, this study examines whether a large aircraft that would replace the current NASA DC-8 is needed to address Earth system science questions, and the role of other airborne platforms for achieving future Earth system science research goals.
Table of Contents- Front Matter
- Summary
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Setting the Stage: The Role of Airborne Platforms in Earth System Science
- 3 The DC-8 Airborne Research Platform
- 4 The Role of Airborne Platforms in Addressing Emerging Science
- 5 Workforce Training and Development
- 6 Recommendations for the Future Need of a Large Aircraft
- References
- Appendix A: Committee Member Biographies
- Appendix B: Statement of Task
- Appendix C: Acronyms
- Appendix D: 2017 Earth Science and Applications from Space Decadal Survey Table 3.2
- Appendix E: Atmospheric Chemistry Detailed Measurements