Chasing Solar Eclipses with NASA Supersonic Jet Pilots | NASA Goddard
On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will cross Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal. However, among the best views will come from 50,000 feet up, aboard NASA's WB-57 jet. Flying through the stratosphere, the jet’s instruments study the eclipse from above most of Earth’s atmosphere, avoiding the clouds, dust, and water vapor that can blur the view.
As the Moon's shadow races across the ground, the crew pushes the high-speed jet to stay inside totality for as long as possible, giving scientists and their instruments extra time to study the Sun.
The NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas is the home of the NASA WB-57 High Altitude Research Program. Three WB-57 aircraft are based near JSC at Ellington Field. The aircraft have been flying research missions since the early 1970's, and continue to be an asset to the scientific community with service designed to meet a variety of scientific objectives.
The WB-57 is a mid-wing, long-range aircraft capable of operating for extended periods of time from sea level to altitudes in excess of 63,000 feet. The WB-57 can fly for approximately 6.5 hours, has a range of approximately 2500 miles, and can carry up to 8,800 lbs of payload.
Eclipse safety info: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/
Producer: Joy Ng (eMITS)
Pilots: Tom Parent (NASA JSC), Cary Klemm (NASA JSC)
Videographers: Josh Valcarcel (NASA JSC), Charles Clendaniel (eMITS)
Duration: 2 minutes
Release Date: July 27, 2026
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