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