| Kuiper Airborne Observatory | |
|---|---|
 The KAO in flight | |
| General information | |
| Other name(s) | Gerard P. Kuiper Airborne Observatory |
| Type | Airborne observatory |
| Manufacturer | NASA |
| Status | Retired |
| Owners | NASA |
| Construction number | 6110[1] |
| Registration | N714NA |
| Serial | NASA 714 |
| History | |
| In service | 1974 – 1995 |
| Developed from | Lockheed C-141 Starlifter |
| Preserved at | Moffett Field[2] |
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,[1] callsign: NASA 714[1]) 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).