 NASA Research U-2C and ER-2 Aircraft. Receiving its first U-2 Aircraft in 1971, NASA nearly duplicated every U-2 research project previously conducted by the Air Force research laboratories including; high-altitude micrometeorite collection, severe storms - lightning research, Ozone concentration measurement studies and tropical cyclone research support - NASA Photo |
By 1968, the US Air Force slowly began to privatize their organic research laboratories and to decrease its direct support of scientific research within its operational commands.
It was at this point that NASA, cognizant of the capabilities and contributions that the early Air Force research U-2 provided over the years, lobbied the US Government for the acquisition of its own U-2 research aircraft to carry on similar research.
In 1971, it was successful and NASA was granted authorization to operate U-2 Aircraft for scientific research purposes.
On June 3rd and 4th 1971, the NASA Ames research facility received two (ex-CIA) U-2C aircraft on permanent loan from the US Air Force, as high-altitude scientific research aircraft.
Fifteen years after it said that it was the U-2 aircraft program manager, and would be operating these new U-2 aircraft as scientific research tools, NASA finally received U-2 Aircraft for that very purpose.
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