2026 News & Events

A NASA high-altitude research aircraft will operate in Panama from August 24 through September 23 as part of a NOAA mission, in collaboration with NASA, to study a key region of the Earth's atmosphere.

The NASA WB-57 aircraft is in Panama exclusively to conduct scientific atmospheric research as part of the Stratospheric Aerosol Processes, Budget, and Radiative Effects (SABRE) mission. NASA's Johnson Space Center owns and operates the aircraft, which carries more than 17 scientific instruments to measure aerosols, atmospheric gases, ozone, water vapor, and meteorological conditions.

"The United States is leading the world in science and innovation, and missions like SABRE demonstrate how our leadership is a force for good in the world," said U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera. "Better atmospheric data means better information for American scientists; better models for understanding weather and conditions; and a stronger U.S. scientific advantage. Panama's unique location makes it possible for American researchers to collect data that would be difficult to obtain anywhere else in the world."

The NASA WB-57 will be based at Panamá Pacífico International Airport and will conduct research flights over the region during its deployment. Panama's valuable geographic location allows researchers to sample tropical atmospheric conditions, including deep convection over northern South America, and to fly across the Intertropical Convergence Zone into the Southern Hemisphere.

SABRE is a multi-year NOAA airborne science campaign studying how tiny particles (or aerosols) form, move, and change in the upper atmosphere. The stratosphere is particularly important because it is home to Earth's protective ozone layer, which shields us from solar UV radiation. These measurements help scientists improve global models and better understand the effects of atmospheric changes on ozone, weather, and the Earth's energy balance.

During research flights, the NASA WB-57 generally operates at altitudes between 13 and 19 kilometers (43,000–62,000 feet). Flight routes and timing are determined by atmospheric and meteorological conditions, with most flights occurring during daylight hours. The SABRE mission plans approximately three scientific flights per week.

The WB-57 has been used by NASA for scientific research since the 1970s. While the aircraft design traces its history to an aircraft developed for the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s, the three remaining WB-57 aircraft are operated by NASA. The SABRE mission aircraft is configured with specialized scientific instruments for atmospheric research.