New NASA Earth missions gear up to start science flights
NASA is launching a new series of suborbital Earth Venture missions using modified aircraft to conduct remote sensing research. The first project, INSPYRE, will study the formation of 'fire clouds' generated by extreme wildfires to improve weather forecasting.
Why it matters
These missions provide critical data to bridge the gap between ground-based sensors and satellites, helping communities better prepare for severe weather events.
edited by Swati Mestri , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source NASA’s 777 aircraft is gearing up to start science flights. Structural modifications – like enlarged cabin windows and instrument portals – have transformed the former passenger plane into a flying laboratory. It’s seen here at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, in April 2026. Credit: NASA/Ryan Hill Landslides in Alaska. Air quality in Atlanta. Fire clouds out West. From the Arctic fringes to farm country, NASA's newest class of suborbital Earth Venture missions is gearing up to deliver science that will benefit communities in the United States and beyond.
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