Robotic Aircraft to study Earth from above

Scientists from NASA and Northrop Grumman have created a unmanned aircraft that will study the Earth in the most extreme of conditions, giving us new insight into various types of natural phenomena. Global Hawks will be able to fly up to very high altitudes from which it will use monitoring tools to collect even more precise data than current satellites. It can also travel greater distances than any other aircraft designed so far, and it can remain stationed for longer periods of time.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), who will work alongside NASA in guiding the Global Hawks through the science missions, predict the machine will be able to achieve amazing feats, such as flying directly over a hurricane to record its intensity and other properties. The aircraft can also be stationed in the very low temperatures of the Arctic ocean, where it can observe sea ice changes, and gather crucial information we might be missing. Some of the instruments at its disposal will be able to map out the properties of clouds, measure pollutants and other gasses in the air, as well as detect biological life and processes in the oceans.

Global Hawks will correspond with the Aura Satellite, which gives daily reports on things like climate changes or ozone layer levels. The satellite, however, can only observe broad changes to a region, while the unmanned aircraft will be able to see all the little details that complete the picture. It will be interesting also to compare the meteorological data gathered by each observatory machine, to see if there are any differences.

As can be inferred, Global Hawks can operate entirely on its own. After it has been given its mission and coordinates, it takes off, navigates and lands without the help of a pilot. Still, scientists can give it new directions while in the air, so it won’t be entirely helpless should it find itself in danger. Good thing too, because God knows how much the thing cost to create.