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NASA’s ER-2 Earth Resources aircraft is a fixed-wing jet aircraft that serves as a bridge between satellite and in-situ observations. NASA operates two ER-2 aircraft. The ER-2 has a maximum flight duration of 12 hours and can operate at an altitude of up to 70,000 feet, affording the platform a unique vantage point to collect observations at a height above 95% of the atmosphere. The ER-2 can support 2,900 pounds of payload, with a single pilot occupant.
Type
Jet
Data Center
GHRC DAAC
LP DAAC
ORNL DAAC
Launch
1981
Objective
Collect remote sensing and in situ data on Earth resources
Instruments Aboard NASA ER-2
| Instrument Name | Operational Date(s) | Spectral Resolution | Type of Instrument |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Microwave Precipitation Radiometer (AMPR) | 4 Bands: 10.7 GHz, 19.35 GHz, 37.1 GHz, 85.5 GHz |
Spectrometer/Radiometer | |
| Airborne Visible InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer - Next Generation (AVIRIS-NG) | 2012 - present | 5 nm |
Spectrometer/Radiometer |
| Airborne Visible/InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer - Classic (AVIRIS-C) | 1987 - 2025 | 400 to 2500 nm |
Spectrometer/Radiometer |
| Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL) | 2000 - present | 1064, 532, and 355 nm |
Profiler/Sounder |
| ER-2 X-band Doppler Radar (EXRAD) | Doppler Radar | ||
| Multispectral Atmospheric Mapping Sensor (MAMS) | April 1 - September 30, 1998 | 0.42-12.56 μm |
Spectrometer/Radiometer |
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