NASA plane sets world altitude record

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, California (CNN) -- A NASA research aircraft set a world altitude record for medium-weight aircraft by reaching 68,700 feet, almost twice the cruising altitude of most airliners.

The ER-2, based at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, reached the altitude during an airborne science mission to measure different components in the atmosphere, such as water, ozone and other atmospheric particles, NASA said in a statement.

A Canadian P-42 aircraft flew the old record of 62,500 feet in 1988. The record was for the aircraft medium weight class of 26,455 to 35,274 pounds at takeoff.

NASA officials said Thursday's record flight was not the first time the ER-2 -- a close cousin to the U-2 spy plane -- has achieved such a high altitude. The aircraft routinely operates between 65,000 and 70,000 feet, but this is the first time the ER-2's performance has been documented and made public.

NASA owns and operates two ER-2 aircraft for its Airborne Science Program. Built by the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, the aircraft collect information about our surroundings, including Earth resources, celestial observations, atmospheric chemistry and dynamics and oceanic processes.

The aircraft also are used for electronic sensor research and development, satellite calibration and satellite data validation.