NASA ER-2 Moonlight Mission Improves Space Sensors

NASA’s ER-2 high-altitude aircraft prepares for a night flight with the Airborne Lunar Spectral Irradiance (air-LUSI) instrument on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. The instrument measures Moonlight to improve accuracy of space-based sensors that forecast the weather, monitor agriculture, and study Earth’s ecosystem.

NASA’s ER-2 high-altitude aircraft prepares for a night flight with the Airborne Lunar Spectral Irradiance (air-LUSI) instrument on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. The instrument measures Moonlight to improve accuracy of space-based sensors that forecast the weather, monitor agriculture, and study Earth’s ecosystem.

Location AFRC
NASA s Armstrong Flight Research CenterAFRCER-2 high altitude aircraftair-LUSIairborne LUnar Spectral Irradiance mission Moonspace-based sensorsEdwards Air Force BaseCalifornia