Kuiper Airborne Observatory

Kuiper Airborne Observatory
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).

  1. ^ a b c "C-141 Heaven: Nasa 714 Photos". www.c141heaven.info. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference ogden2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).