PALMDALE, Calif. -- One group of NASA scientists is taking to the skies to figure out why they think global warming and air pollution are quickly melting snow and ice in the Arctic.

A flying laboratory DC-8 aircraft is used in NASA’s research to make a number of observations that snow and ice is disappearing faster than it ever did in the Arctic. The 157-foot aircraft is loaded with four engines and can fly up to 42,000 feet in the sky. But scientists say the mission is bigger than its wingspan.

On Tuesday, the flying laboratory will take off from the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., and fly over Alaska.

Scientists will spend three weeks testing air pollution and figure out how it’s making the ice in the Arctic melt so fast.

The experiment-carrying jetliner will fly away with 40 scientists and at least 22 multimillion-dollar instruments.

Scientists say their results won't solve the problem. But support for their theories might get some attention.

Lee Mauldin, one of the scientists on board the flying laboratory, said, "What we are doing is informing the public.”

Part two of the mission begins in July. Then, the DC-8 will fly over Canada where they will focus on pollution from forest fires.