NASA will host a media day on Jan. 10 to spotlight a partnership mission with the German Aerospace Agency (DLR) called the Multidisciplinary Airborne Experiment (ND-MAX).
 
ND-MAX research objectives include examining the effects of alternative fuels and engine technology on aircraft emission and contrails, collecting aerosol and trace gas data for validating models and satellite-sensor measurements, and evaluating the performance of new instruments and inlets for potential use in future earth-science missions.
 
To complete this exciting research, NASA’s DC-8 flying laboratory will deploy to Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany in mid-Jan. to meet DLR’s Advanced Technology Aircraft (ATRA) Airbus A320. Together the aircraft will complete a series of science formation flights over a three-week period. Jointly instrumented by DLR and NASA, the DC-8 will follow the ATRA at a safe distance carrying a large suite of cabin and wing-mounted “sniffing” sensors to characterize trace gases, aerosols and ice clouds found in the exhaust plume. The ATRA will use two different standard jet fuels or a blend of jet fuel and renewable plant-based fuel.
 
Prior to the DC-8’s departure to Germany, the aircraft will complete several test flights from its base of operations at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center’s Building 703 in Palmdale, Calif. Media will have the special opportunity to participate in the pre-flight preparation for one of these flights from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. PST on Jan. 10. The experience will include a mission overview presentation from NASA co-project scientist Rich Moore, opportunities to meet other NASA and DLR scientists participating in the mission, and observe a pre-flight brief with the air crew and science teams. After the pre-flight brief concludes, media will tour the DC-8 to see the science instruments and probes that will be taking measurements while airborne, and see the aircraft taxi out for its test flight.
 
Journalists planning to attend must contact Kate Squires at 661-276-2020 or kate.k.squires@nasa.gov no later than Jan. 8 at 10 a.m.