A NASA Dynamic Aviation A200 aircraft is set to conduct research flights over farmland near Transit, Texas, from October 22 through November 9. The mission aims to measure gaseous and particulate emissions from animal feeding operations.
Focus of the Research
The FarmFlux mission will deploy over a dozen sensors to assess emissions such as ozone, methane, ammonia, particulates, and other pollutants that are produced by crop lands and livestock farms. This research is significant as agricultural emissions are considered a critical yet often overlooked aspect of Earth’s land and atmosphere systems. The project is a collaborative effort involving NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Colorado State University, and Boston University.
Future Flight Plans
In addition to the flights in Texas, more low-altitude research flights are scheduled to take place during the growing season from March to July 2027. These flights will utilize a NASA P-3 Orion aircraft and will focus on cropland in the Midwest and California’s Central Valley.
Source: NASA
