Why NASA Is About to Fly Into Iceland’s Total Solar Eclipse

On Aug. 12, 2026, NASA and international teams will use aircraft, balloons and eclipse timing to study the Sun’s corona and Earth’s atmosphere during a total solar eclipse.

NASA’s WB-57 jet will observe from the North Atlantic near Iceland, and an Irish Air Corps C-295 will also support the mission.

NASA-backed balloon and aircraft launches from Iceland are planned to maximize the brief totality window.

The campaigns aim to measure the corona, magnetic fields, prominences and eclipse-driven changes in the upper atmosphere.