NASA sends specialized aircraft, technology to aid Texas flood search and recovery operations
High-altitude WB-57 and UAVSAR technology deployed to accelerate emergency response after July Fourth disaster
By Alexandra Koch Fox News
Published July 9, 2025 5:35pm EDT
In the wake of the catastrophic July Fourth floods that barreled through south central Texas, claiming 119 lives and leaving nearly 200 people missing, NASA dispatched two aircraft to aid local recovery efforts and search and rescue operations.
NASA's high-altitude WB-57 aircraft took off from Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston on Tuesday, and will conduct aerial surveys using its DyNAMITE (Day/Night Airborne Motion Imager for Terrestrial Environments) sensor.
The sensor will take high-resolution photos of the Guadalupe River and several miles of the surrounding area, which could accelerate emergency response times.
A NASA WB-57 plane will be assessing flood damage and aiding with recovery efforts after catastrophic flooding in Texas.
The aircraft are responding as part of NASA’s Disasters Response Coordination System, which was activated to support the flood emergency response in coordination with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and humanitarian groups.
"Persistent cloud-cover has made it difficult to obtain clear satellite imagery, so the Disasters Program coordinated with NASA’s Airborne Science Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Flight Center in Houston to conduct a series of flights to gather observations of the impacted regions," according to a NASA statement.
Officials said the data will be provided to response teams and aid in rescue efforts and resource allocation.
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