Kuiper Airborne Observatory

Kuiper Airborne Observatory
The KAO in flight
General information
Other name(s)Gerard P. Kuiper Airborne Observatory
TypeAirborne observatory
ManufacturerNASA
StatusScrapped
OwnersNASA
Construction number6110
RegistrationN714NA
SerialNASA 714
History
In service1974 – 1995
Developed fromLockheed C-141 Starlifter
Preserved atMoffett Field

The Gerard P. Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) was a national facility operated by NASA to support research in infrared astronomy. The observation platform was a highly modified Lockheed C-141A Starlifter jet transport aircraft (s/n: 6110, registration: N714NA, callsign: NASA 714) with a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km), capable of conducting research operations at altitudes of up to 48,000 feet (14 km).

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