RESEARCH PLANES MOVE TO EDWARDS.Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer Three science research aircraft are now based at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center The Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC), located inside Edwards Air Force Base, is an aeronautical research center operated by NASA. On March 26, 1976 it was named in honor of the late Hugh L. as part of a consolidation effort. The aircraft are among six NASA NASA: see National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA in full National Aeronautics and Space Administration Independent U.S. decided to move from its Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif., to Dryden, bringing with them 80 workers. The move adds operational airborne science flights to Dryden's mission. The planes involved are two ER-2 high-altitude aircraft - a version of the famous U-2 spy plane, able to fly at nearly 80,000 feet - and a modified DC-8 airborne laboratory. ``We're looking forward to a productive year of collecting science data for our partners, their scientists and investigators,'' said Gary Shelton Gary Shelton (born March 21 1958 in Nottingham, England) is an English former footballer. He had a long career, as he made his Football League debut for Walsall in 1975-76 and last played for Chester City in 1997-98. , Dryden's deputy director for airborne science. ``The initiation of operational science missions from Dryden marks a major milestone for the program.'' In January, one of the ER-2s flew an experiment for the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas “Houston” redirects here. For other uses, see Houston (disambiguation). Houston (pronounced /'hjuːstən/) is the largest city in the state of Texas and the , to collect high-altitude particulate matter particulate matter n. Abbr. PM Material suspended in the air in the form of minute solid particles or liquid droplets, especially when considered as an atmospheric pollutant. Noun 1. , or ``cosmic dust,'' in two instruments mounted on pods under the wings. Earlier this month, the second ER-2 made a flight to test an instrument intended to provide improved thermal radiation measurements. The instrument is intended to improve weather prediction capability. The ER-2s are capable of flying above 70,000 feet and can conduct missions as long as eight hours. The DC-8 is used primarily for sensor development, satellite sensor verification and basic research about the Earth's surface and atmosphere. It will begin a series of research flights in mid-March for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory “JPL” redirects here. For other uses, see JPL (disambiguation). Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a NASA research center located in the cities of Pasadena and La Cañada Flintridge, near Los Angeles, California, USA. in Pasadena. The consolidation is part of a plan announced in May 1995 to put 21 aircraft from five other research centers at Dryden. The effort is part of a plan to trim NASA's budget by $5 billion over a five-year period. However, because of congressional opposition over concerns about cost effectiveness, the consolidation plans were delayed. At this point, only the six Ames aircraft have been authorized to be relocated. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (Color--Ran in AV Edition only) Two ER-2 high-altitude research planes like this one are among the six aircraft NASA is relocating to its Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base Edwards Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 301,000 acres (121,805 hectares), S Calif., NE of Lancaster; est. 1933. It is one of the largest air force bases in the United States and has the world's longest runway. . Carla Thomas/NASA |
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