NASA Sends UAVs into Volcano Plume to Test Sensing Equipment

(Before It's News)

Ever since NASA ended the space shuttle program, the space agency has not slowed down its efforts in other areas of space exploration, such as its dramatic efforts on Mars.

However, what many people may not realize is that a lot of NASA’s resources and work is actually becoming more focused on Earth itself. A good example of this is the NASA research conducted in Costa Rica at the Turrialba Volcano.

In an experiment that most RC airplane enthusiasts would love to take part in, NASA Earth scientists flew a Dragon Eye unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) directly into the sulfur dioxide plume of the volcano.

The Turrialba Volcano is an active volcano that last erupted in 1866. Up until 2001, visitors were allowed to hike to the rim of the main crater and then hike down into it. Since 2001, increased gaseous activity at the crater forced strict limits to hikers, and they are no longer permitted to stay at the summit for more than 15 minutes. (1)

The volcano activity continued to increase, and in 2010 it emitted ash, and forced the evacuation of two Read more…

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