World's Biggest Flying Lab Comes To Asia On Air Pollution Mission

Readings gathered aboard NASA's specially outfitted DC-8 will help scientists determine how pollutants are spread in the air (Credit: AFP)

NASA has kicked off a series of marathon flights in Asia with the world's biggest flying laboratory, in an ambitious mission to improve the models that help to forecast and fight air pollution.

Millions of deaths each year are linked to air pollution, and improving the ability to identify its sources and behaviour can lead to more accurate warning systems for the public.