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
