FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) – ­ NASA is using a high-altitude, converted U2 spy plane to test technology over Arctic sea ice for future applications.

The long-winged ER-2 jet is based in Fairbanks for three weeks for testing and developing technology for satellite applications, KUAC reported.

The three-week project using airborne laser technology will allow scientists to get a preview of a satellite mission NASA plans to launch in 2017. It's also a follow-up to a 2012 scan in Iceland using the laser technology, known as Lidar.

The flights are being conducted at 65,000 feet over Arctic sea ice...