The NASA ER-2, a direct descendant of the U-2 spy plane, is used for Earth science applications by a number of different Caltech and JPL scientists. In this photo, the ER-2 is loaded with more than 17 chemical sensors. Associate Prof. of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Wennberg together with Dr. Ross Salawitch and other JPL scientists use the ER-2 to study of the photochemistry of the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. Prof. Bruce Murray is using remote measurements from the ER-2 to study desertification of the southwest U.S.

Photo credit: The ER-2 landing at Fairbanks, Alaska, by Ross Salawitch.