ER-2 aircraft pilot in the stratosphere. Pilot Thomas F. Ryan in his pressure suit while flying a NASA ER-2 (Earth Resources 2) high-altitude research aircraft over New Mexico, USA. The ER-2, flown since the 1980s, is a modified version of the U-2 spyplane, and can fly at over 27,500 metres altitude for over 8000 kilometres. This mission tested the MABEL (Multiple Altimeter Beam Experimental Lidar) laser altimeter for NASA's ice-observing satellite (ICESat-2), due to launch in 2016. Former US Coast Guard and US Air Force pilot Ryan began work at Dryden Flight Research Center in 2010. Photographed on 5 April 2011.