/ Published November 18, 2015
A NASA Lockheed ER-2 aircraft taxi’s down the McChord runway Nov. 18, 2015, from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. NASA is at McChord Field to complete studies of the local weather, flying in extreme conditions to gather data. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Divine Cox)
A NASA Lockheed ER-2 aircraft takes off from McChord Field flight line Nov. 18, 2015, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. NASA's ER-2 set a world-altitude record for the class of aircraft with a takeoff weight between 26,455 and 35,275 lb on Nov. 19, 1998, when the aircraft reached 68,700 feet. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Divine Cox)
A NASA Lockheed ER-2 aircraft receives fuel prior to taking off Nov. 18, 2015, from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. NASA operates two Lockheed ER-2 Earth resources aircraft as flying laboratories in the Airborne Science Program under the Agency's Science Mission Directorate. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Divine Cox)