NASA Launches Flights To Assess Local Earthquake Risk

NASA has conducted the first of several planned flights over Southern California to try to determine if the magnitude-7.2 Easter Sunday quake put more pressure on other fault lines, increasing the likelihood of more temblors in the region.

NASA sent a specially equipped Gulfstream III jet on a six-hour flight Thursday over several seismically active areas including the Salton Sea, U.S.-Mexico border and the San Diego coast.

The flight produced photos and data that scientists will analyze.

In addition to assessing quake risk in Southern California, scientists also hope they can better understand how faults interact.

More than 5,000 aftershocks have struck around the border since the April 4 Baja California quake that killed two people in Mexico and caused $100 million in damage in California alone.