Push Admin

ABS-CBN News joins NASA's air quality mission over Philippine skies

Mission scientists and flight crew of Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality (ASIA-AQ) on Febrruary 8, 2024 give members of the press a tour on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) DC-8 flying laboratory and Gill Aircraft at Clark International Airport in Pampanga. The study will be used in collecting detailed air quality data over multiple locations in Asia including the Philippines that will improve the understanding of local air quality issues. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

NASA-DENR

IZZY LEE

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Mission scientists and flight crew of Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality (ASIA-AQ) on Febrruary 8, 2024 give members of the press a tour on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) DC-8 flying laboratory and Gill Aircraft at Clark International Airport in Pampanga. The study will be used in collecting detailed air quality data over multiple locations in Asia including the Philippines that will improve the understanding of local air quality issues. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2024/news/02/14/20240208-dc-8-airborne-plane-nasa-clark-pampanga-mt-1.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><figcaption>Mission scientists and flight crew of Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality (ASIA-AQ) on Febrruary 8, 2024 give members of the press a tour on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) DC-8 flying laboratory and Gill Aircraft at Clark International Airport in Pampanga. The study will be used in collecting detailed air quality data over multiple locations in Asia including the Philippines that will improve the understanding of local air quality issues. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA — ABS-CBN News boarded the National Aeronautics and Space Administration&#x27;s (NASA) Douglas DC-8 aircraft on Tuesday at Clark International Airport in Pampanga. The mission: collect air samples from different areas across the country as part of the Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality or ASIA-AQ.<ul class="op-related-articles"><li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/7/meet-the-filipino-team-joining-nasa-s-research-on-metro-manila-air-quality-1521">Meet the Filipino team joining NASA&#x27;s research on Metro Manila air quality</a></li></ul> The ASIA-AQ project, spearheaded by NASA, aims to unravel the intricacies of the air we breathe, providing vital insights into air quality.   James Crawford, research scientist at NASA Langley Research Center, said the mission goes beyond merely identifying areas with poor air quality.   &quot;We also hope to give a lot of information on what the sources are and which sources are going to be so advantageous in terms of trying to improve the situation for everyone here in Manila,&quot; he said.   The DC-8 took off at 9 a.m., covering a substantial route that included multiple rounds over Metro Manila, Tarlac, Bulacan, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Pangasinan, Jomalig Island in Quezon, and others.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Inside NASA DC-8 flying laboratory, equipped with 26 advanced instruments, the aircraft is set to navigate at low altitudes over Metro Manila and other areas in the Philippines, gathering air samples for the ASIA-AQ mission. <a href="https://t.co/g4OsQhXzFB">pic.twitter.com/g4OsQhXzFB</a>— Izzy Lee (@_izzylee) <a href="https://twitter.com/_izzylee/status/1755587800987209898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2024</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script>   Over 8 hours, the DC-8 executed a series of low-altitude flights, maintaining proximity to the ground without touching down – a necessary measure, as explained by NASA.   &quot;We have to be close to the ground because that&#x27;s where the pollution is being generated and where chemistry is changing,&quot; Crawford explained. <ul class="op-related-articles"><li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/11/nasa-s-dc-8-lab-sighted-over-qc-1707">NASA’s DC-8 lab sighted over QC</a></li></ul> Loaded with more than 20 different instruments, the DC-8 offers limited seating and experiences elevated temperatures inside the aircraft.   All windows were covered to shield against external heat, and probes or tubes attached externally allowed the flow of air samples to instruments for measurement and analysis.   The Mission Director&#x27;s station also has buttons and switch panels to manage power distribution to individual instruments on board, allowing real-time adjustments.   &quot;As mission directors, what we do during the flight is we help all science teams figure out and coordinate what the priorities are and then we communicate that with the pilots in front and making sure everybody is getting what they need as much as possible,&quot; said DC-8 Mission Director Nickie Reid.   The DC-8 accommodated a small pantry at the back equipped with a microwave and coffeemaker, along with two restrooms at the rear of the aircraft.   Due to the noise level of 80 decibels and above, akin to the sound of a lawnmower, headsets were a necessity to protect against hearing damage.   This marked NASA&#x27;s fourth and final flight over the Philippines before moving on to another Asian country. Results from these studies are expected to be published within a year.   Crawford shared initial insights from the past four flights and highlighted the dynamic nature of air quality.<ul class="op-related-articles"><li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/8/nasa-set-to-gather-air-samples-in-ph-with-its-flying-laboratory-2323">NASA set to gather air samples in PH with its flying laboratory</a></li></ul>  &quot;The first day was the dirtiest flight that we saw in the atmosphere. But we also saw that it depends on the direction that the Manila plume blows and it seems that on the first day the position of the plume was well-aligned with the aircraft tracks that we are flying,&quot; he said.   &quot;As we go from day to day, the part of the Philippines affected the most is changing. This is really important in forecasting and understanding parts of Metro Manila affected the most and how people can understand where air quality is the worst,&quot; he added.   RELATED VIDEO<div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="2960227"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script><div> </div>

The NASA mission focused on collecting air samples from diverse areas across the country as part of the ASIA-AQ project.

The NASA mission focused on collecting air samples from diverse areas across the country as part of the ASIA-AQ project.