During its illustrious 32 years of service, the original super guppy flew over three million miles in support of nasa s apollo, gemini, skylab, and the international space station programs. Dubbed the super guppy, it was equipped with a 25 diameter cargo bay, more powerful engines, a pressurized cockpit, and a hinged nose for easier loading of cargo. Its the super guppy turbine sgt, and its nasa s oneofakind aircraft for transporting. Rockwells prototype xfv12a vertical takeoff and landing prototype, and a large composite structure as part of nasas prseus program. Nasas bulbous super guppy landed at mansfield lahm airport on the weekend with an interesting piece of cargo onboard. Nasa s aero spacelines super guppy landed at mansfieldlahm regional airport, november 24, 2019 while transporting the orion space capsule. Aside from the super guppys size it measures more than 48 feet to the top of its tail and has a wingspan of more than 156 feet with a huge upper cargo bay the aircraft features a hinged nose that opens 110 degrees. Aero spacelines b377 sg super guppy specifications.
Among the difficulties facing the apollo program in the 1960s and early 1970s was how to move large rocket stages from the contractor facilities where they were built to the launch pads in florida. Payload the maximum payload for the super guppy is 52,500 pounds, with a maximum range at maximum payload at 564 miles. The super guppys cargo compartment has a usable volume of 39,000 cubic feet, enough volume to carry even a home. The super guppy was delivering a crew compartment trainer air force members from march arb, ca, support the. This story was corrected to properly identify that nasa s super guppy aircrafts nose opens to a105degree angle, not 200degree, and to properly identify statements and actions by. Only five super guppy s were built and nasa s is the only one still operational. Nasa s bulbous super guppy cargo plane broke through the clouds north of boeing field at noon saturday, to the cheers of more than 1,000 gathered at the museum of flight. Feb 01, 2016 nasas super guppy gives marsbound spacecraft a lift. Nasa super guppy aircraft picked up the mbb at the long beach airport in calif. The orion spacecraft for artemis 1, which is being transported by nasa s super guppy aircraft, safely arrived at mansfield lahm regional airport in ohio yesterday.
Stephen rayleigh, editoratlarge at 152 aviation, we love to tell a unique story. Nasa super guppy landing and orion spacecraft offload. You can help us keep flightaware free by allowing ads from flightaware. Space shuttle trainer lifts off for seattle on nasas super. The aero spacelines super guppy is a large, widebodied cargo aircraft that is used for hauling. The aircraft was carrying the orion space capsule which was en route to nasas plum brook station at sandusky. Jan 23, 2015 the super guppy is a cargo plane used to transport oversized components for nasa. The super guppy will deliver the orion stage adapter to kennedy on the same day. Asi continued to own and operate the aircraft until 1979, when nasa purchased the aircraft from them.
Pleiades supercomputer nasa advanced supercomputing division. Super guppy takeoff roll nasa 377sgt super guppy turbo. Aerospacelines 377sgt super guppy makes an extremely rare visit maybe first time visit to hanscom field delivering a heat shield that will be. Nasa aero spacelines super guppy boeing c97j turbo. Nasa national aeronautics and space administration. The maximum range with a payload of 16,000 pounds is 2,000 miles. The fuselage was lengthened to 141 feet 43 m, and ballooned out to a maximum inside diameter of 25 ft 7. Orion transport fixture fitchecked in nasas super guppy aircraft. Rayj johnson left and nasa pilot dick clark seen at the controls of the super guppy during its flight between air bases in. Apr 03, 2018 the super guppy, nasa s aircraft used to transport pieces of the space launch system, took off from marshall space flight center on tuesday. Nasa used the very special airplane this week to transport the spacecraft built for its artemis 1 moon mission.
Wb57 before take off with super guppy nasa airborne. The super guppy performed this role several times during the apollo program. The super guppy aircraft is scheduled to land at redstone army air field at 4. The pregnant guppy was the first of the guppy line of aircraft produced by aero spacelines. Nasa s super guppy aircraft to deliver module for crew life support testing to marshall center feb. Nasa super guppy scheduled for short flight this morning. Scenes include the super guppy landing at wrightpatterson air force base in ohio, and cockpit footage while in.
Nasa bridget caswell you cant just pack an orion moon capsule into a 747 and send it off. Nasas super guppy awkward, old, and irreplaceable tested. Jan 02, 20 sts126 space shuttle endeavour landing and turnaround at nasa afrc dryden flight research center duration. For a start, because nasa isnt in the business of developing production aircraft, and didnt develop. Five were built in two variants, both of which were colloquially referred to as the super guppy.
Space shuttle trainer lifts off for seattle on nasa. Gulfstream v research aircraft nasa 5 the johnson space center jsc procured a longrange gulfstream gv aircraft as part of a shared usage agreement between the international space station iss program and the nasa earth sciences division esd. The aero spacelines super guppy is a large, widebodied cargo aircraft that is used for hauling outsize cargo components. Nasa super guppy lands at boeing field the seattle times.
Conroy of aero spaceliners, incorporated, who started with the fuselages of a surplus boeing c97 stratocruiser, ballooned out the upper decks enormously, and hinged the front sections so that they could be folded back. The adapter will join orion to the rockets interim cryogenic propulsion stage that will give the spacecraft the push needed to go to deep space on em1. Feb 01, 2016 behold, nasa s massive super guppy aircraft delivering the orion spacecraft to florida the vessel designed to take us to mars is entering the last preparatory stages before its big 2018 mission. The aircraft has unique hinged nose that can open more than 200 degrees, allowing large pieces of cargo to be loaded and unloaded from the front.
The super guppy turbine is the last generation of guppy aircraft ever produced and only four were ever made. Nasa invites media to view super guppy picking up sls. Space shuttle trainer lifts off for seattle on nasas. The super guppy is a large, widebodied cargo aircraft used for transporting huge. The aero spacelines pregnant guppy was a large, widebodied cargo aircraft built in the united states and used for ferrying outsized cargo items, most notably nasa s components of the apollo program.
The nasa super guppy inflight cockpit video youtube. Aod 4094022, super guppy strain flight test and floor beam analysis. A nasa super guppy transport plane swallowed two nasa t38 aircraft whole march 18, right out on nasa dryden flight research centers back ramp. Nasas super guppy in action this plane is super ugly but. The first, the super guppy, or sg, was built directly from the fuselage of a c97j turbo stratocruiser, the military version of the 1950s boeing 377 stratocruiser passenger plane. Spacex launches cargo toward space station, aces 50th rocket landing. The orion capsule was loaded onto a large truck and stored at the 179th airlift wing before making its way to nasas plum brook station in sandusky, ohio. An aero spacelines super guppy sits on the flightline at joint base san antoniorandolph, texas march the super guppy, operated by nasa, has a cargo space that is 25 feet in diameter and 111 feet long. Nasas super guppy aircraft to deliver module for crew life.
Why didnt nasa develop a jet version of their own super guppy aircraft like what airbus did when they made a jet version of that aircraft. The shuttle program now over, the fft is being delivered in. The super guppys hinged nose can open more than 200 degrees, which allows larger piece of cargo such as the orion to be easily loaded and unloaded in the front. Your super guppy plane is super rad nasa s super guppy airplane may look like a bloated steel whale, but its carrying very valuable cargo. This series of photos shows the orion exploration mission 1 em1 crew module cm heat shield skin being loaded into the super guppy after processing at lockheed martin space systems in sunnyvale, california. Nasa invites media to view super guppy picking up sls flight. The aero spacelines b377 sg super guppy is a fourengine oversizecargo freighter aircraft produced by the american manufacturer aero spacelines. Nasa aero spacelines super guppy boeing c97j turbo stratocruiser n941na i cant shake the impression that the setcostume designers of the movie independence day took a look a the guppy before designing their space aliens. Why didnt nasa develop a jet version of their own super. Registered n941na, the airplane spent the bulk of its postairbus life moving parts for the international space station iss.
The super guppy is a cargo plane used to transport oversized components for nasa. Super guppy ready to transport the orion spacecraft nasa. The pregnant guppy cut the delivery time from factory to the launch site from 18 days to 18 hours, and immediately began transporting components for the gemini space program. Nasa s super guppy cargo aircraft takes off from ellington field in houston carrying nasa s space shuttle trainer crew cabin on june 27, 2012. Super guppy swallows nasa aircraft whole pictures cnet. Video of the super guppy landing at the national museum of the united states air force. The super guppy has a cargo compartment that is 25 feet tall, 25 feet wide and 111 feet long and can carry more than 26 tons. Nasa s super guppy aircraft readies to transport an orion spacecraft from the michoud assembly facility in louisiana to kennedy space center in florida. The super guppy s hinged nose can open more than 200 degrees, which allows larger piece of cargo such as the. Nasas super guppy awkward old and irreplaceable nasa s. Apr 04, 2018 nasa super guppy heavy transport plane loading and transporting 2 nasa t38 aircrafts. The aircraft was carrying the orion space capsule which was en route to nasa s plum brook station at sandusky.
The super guppy the super guppy has never been to space, but it has a long history of helping nasa get there. Nasa s super guppy awkward, old, and irreplaceable tested. If an airplane looks like it shouldnt even be capable of flightall the better. The nasa super guppy b377sgt super guppy turbine transport plane lands at mansfieldlahm regional airport, oh on march 22, 2020, to load the orion space capsule nasa artemis mission, bound for. The maximum payload for the super guppy is 52,500 pounds, with a maximum range at maximum payload at 564 miles. Nasa s super guppy gives marsbound spacecraft a lift emily calandrelli 4 years today the orion capsule, nasa s spacecraft designed to bring humans to mars, starts its next phase of. Apr 14, 2005 nasa s flight research center assisted in certification testing of the first pregnant guppy in 1962. Previous guppy airplanes carried the lunar landing training vehicle in 1968, an xfv12a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft prototype in 1977, and a component for the national transonic facility in 1979. Nasa program safety requirements such as nsts 1700. Nasas super guppy took to the skies to transport flight. The oddbody, oversize aircraft has helped transport components of the gemini, apollo.
The orion transport fixture is fitchecked in nasas super guppy aircraft at. Nasas super guppy offers a practical and economical solution to these problems. One of the turboproppowered super guppies, built up from a yc97j airframe, last appeared at dryden in may, 1976 when it was used to transport the hl10 and x24b lifting bodies from dryden to the air force museum at wrightpatterson air force. Nasa invited collectspace to fly with johnson, pilot dick clark and the super guppy s flight crew as the cargo plane traversed california. Nasas super guppy gives marsbound spacecraft a lift. Nasa used it primarily to transport parts for the international space station. For additional information or comments about the super guppy contact.
Jul 08, 2015 nasas super guppyawkward, old, and irreplaceable by terry dunn on july 8, 2015 at 9 a. Nasa s super guppy plane made a rare stop at phoenixmesa gateway airport on dec. Space shuttle trainer lifts off for seattle on nasa aircraft space. The super guppy, which is based at nasas johnson space center in. The super guppy is like their predecessor the aero spacelines pregnant guppy a modification of the boeing 377 stratocruiser. The super guppy landed in ohio on sunday with an orion capsule on board.
The sgt super guppy transport, the last of its kind still flying, is based at ellington airport in houston, near nasa s johnson space center. Built at nasas marshall space flight center in huntsville, the osa was used in integrated structural testing for the top of the sls rocket and will be used in similar testing with orion at lockheed. According to nasa, the super guppy has a cargo compartment that is 25 feet tall, 25 feet wide and 111 feet long and can carry more than 26 tons. Media are invited to view nasas super guppy aircraft as it picks up the flight version of the orion stage adapter for nasas deepspace rocket, the space launch system, at the agencys marshall space flight center in huntsville, alabama, tuesday, april 3, at redstone army airfield. The super guppy aircraft is used by nasa to transport large cargo items it was used to move parts of the saturn v rocket during the apollo missions it. Its hinged nose can open than 200 degrees and the cargo compartment is 25 feet tall, 25 feet wide and 111 feet long. The oversize aircraft with a unique fold away nose has helped move nasa s aerospace components for decades. The super guppy, with its 111 foot 34 meters long and 25 foot 8 meters high cargo hold, features a unique hinged nose that allows large items like the crew cabin to be loaded and unloaded from the front. A repaint of the payware a2a simulations boeing wos b377 pregnant guppy. Jun 27, 2012 nasas super guppy cargo aircraft takes off from ellington field in houston carrying nasas space shuttle trainer crew cabin on june 27, 2012. Nasas super guppy cargo transport aircraft coming in for landing at. Riding aboard nasa s super guppy aircraft, the orion spacecraft that will fly the artemis 1 lunar orbit mission returned home to the kennedy space center ksc in florida on march 25 after four. Its quick and easy to whitelist ads on flightaware or please consider our premium accounts. Footage of the nasa super guppy aircraft 2019 and 2014.
Super guppy, bigger sister of the aptly named pregnant guppy, was the only airplane in the world capable of carrying a complete sivb stage. Nasas super guppy arrives to armstrong building 703 for. Artemis 1 orion returns to ksc after plum brook testing. Super guppy takeoff nasa 377sgt super guppy turbo, n941na. The first super guppy sg uses a fuselage from a boeing c97j turbo stratocruiser military turboprop variant of the 377 stratocruiser.
The airbusbuilt super guppy is one of only five built, the only one still flying and the only one in nasa s fleet. Super guppy was carrying the orion space capsule to ohio for testing. Space shuttle trainer lifts off for seattle on nasa aircraft. John conroy stands in front of a super guppy at edwards air force base, 1965. Moffett federal airfield knuq, mountain view, california. The super guppy is an oversized cargo aircraft that carries the nations spacecraft from the manufacturers to the launch pad. Nasa super guppy plane delivers large composite structure. We work hard to keep our advertising relevant and unobtrusive to create a great experience. Dec 10, 2014 nasa super guppy plane makes stop at gateway. Once open, an aircraft cargo loader was used to load the two trainer aircraft. Nasa national aeronautics and space administration log in to airborne science create new account.
Nasa super guppy loading, taking off and landing youtube. Dec 08, 20 orion eft1 heat shield is off loaded from nasas super guppy aircraft after transport from manchester, n. This is at least the fourth trip a super guppy has made to nasa langley. Nasas super guppy cargo plane meets all of those qualifications. Nasa s super guppy is the latest in a line of guppy aircraft used by nasa to transport spacecraft components. Apr 11, 2017 nasa transports spacecraft in super guppy for decades, nasa has relied on an aircraft known as super guppy to transport heavy loads like spacecraft. A plane that looks more like a giant fish than an aircraft hauled a huge, uniquelyshaped, fuselage crosssection across country for testing at nasa s langley research center in hampton, virginia. The guppy has a cargo compartment that is 25 feet tall. Mar 25, 2020 if an airplane looks like it shouldnt even be capable of flightall the better. The fifth, and last, super guppy to be produced was shipped to the us to fly for nasa in the late 1990s.
The guppy that i had watched so intently outside was, to my disappointment, not taking off today. Please see reproduction guidelines for use of nasa images and emblems for more information. Sls test hardware loaded into nasas super guppy aircraft. The super guppy has a cargo area that is 25 feet tall, 25 feet wide and 111 feet long.
It was the successor to the pregnant guppy, the first of the guppy aircraft produced by aero spacelines. Nasas b377sgt super guppy turbine cargo aircraft, operated by. Super guppy takeoff roll nasa 377sgt super guppy turbo, n941na. In fact, nasa says they would not have been able to get a man on the moon by 1969 without the help of the guppy. The super guppy was built from the cockpit, wings, and tail of a boeing c97. The aircraft transformed the long and laborious process of transporting rockets and parts between the east and west coasts of the usa. Nov 18, 2019 pleiades, one of the worlds most powerful supercomputers, represents nasa s stateoftheart technology for meeting the agencys supercomputing requirements, enabling nasa scientists and engineers to conduct modeling and simulation for nasa projects.
Nasa super guppy plane delivers large composite structure for testing nasa. Initially skeptical about the plane, nasa officials were soon won over and the super guppy played a big role in getting the first man on the moon in 1969. Nasas goofy super guppy plane delivers orion moon capsule. Why the super guppy is such a badass plane popular mechanics. The cruise speed at 25,000 feet is 290 miles per hour.
Submitted 3 years ago the super guppy is scheduled to fly today, for those plane hunters that might be in the area. Nasas super guppy aircraft takes off carrying space shuttle crew cabin mockup. Nasa transports spacecraft in super guppy the weather channel. Nasa s bulbous super guppy landed at mansfield lahm airport on the weekend with an interesting piece of cargo onboard.
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