Front view of NASA’s Super Guppy aircraft after it touched down at Mansfield’s Lahm Airport in November, 2015. The crew delivered the crew module adaptor for Orion’s testing at NASA's Plum Brook Station next year.

NASA's Super Guppie aircraft on to tarmac of Redstone Arsenal airfield prior to liftoff with the Orion stage adapter which will be transported to Denver, Colorado for further testing.

Super Guppy Flight Engineer Michael Robinson inside the Cargo Hold.

Orion Spacecraft Arrives in Ohio Aboard the Super Guppy at Mansfield Lahm Airport

Orion Spacecraft Arrives in Ohio Aboard the Super Guppy at Mansf

Orion Spacecraft Arrives in Ohio Aboard the Super Guppy at Mansfield Lahm Airport

Orion Spacecraft Arrives in Ohio Aboard the Super Guppy at Mansf

Orion Spacecraft Arrives in Ohio Aboard the Super Guppy at Mansfield Lahm Airport

Orion Spacecraft Arrives in Ohio Aboard the Super Guppy at Mansf

Orion Spacecraft Arrives in Ohio Aboard the Super Guppy at Mansfield Lahm Airport

Orion Spacecraft Arrives in Ohio Aboard the Super Guppy at Mansf

Orion Spacecraft Arrives in Ohio Aboard the Super Guppy at Mansfield Lahm Airport

Orion Spacecraft Arrives in Ohio Aboard the Super Guppy at Mansf

Orion Spacecraft Arrives in Ohio Aboard the Super Guppy at Mansfield Lahm Airport

NASA's Super Guppie aircraft lifts off from Redstone Arsenal's airfield with the Orion stage adapter which will be transported to Denver, Colorado for further testing.

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Super Guppy arrival and (MBB) Multi-Bay Box Delivery ; Super Gup

The platform which will be used to load the Orion stage adapter into NASA's Super Guppie aircraft is shown in the foreground with the Guppie aircraft in the background

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NASA N941NA is the last Super Guppy Turbine Cargo Airplane in service.

NASAs B377SGT Super Guppy Turbine Cargo Airplane lands at Moffett Field at NASA Ames.

Orion Spacecraft Arrives in Ohio Aboard the Super Guppy at Mansf

NASA's Super Guppie arrives at Redstone Arsenal airfield to transport the Orion stage adapter to Denver Colorado for further testing. The nose is open exposing the cargo bay.

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NASA N941NA lift off from Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, it is the last Super Guppy still flying.

NASAs B377SGT Super Guppy Turbine Cargo Airplane Leaving Moffett Field at NASA Ames.

The Orion stage adapter is being placed inside the cargo bay of NASA's Super Guppie aircraft before being flown to Denver, Colorado for further testing.

NASAs B377SGT Super Guppy Turbine Cargo Airplane lands at Moffett Field at NASA Ames.

NASA N941NA parked in front of Hangar 1 at Moffett Field. Cargo is loaded into the Super Guppy when the aircraft's "fold-away" nose rotates 110 degrees to the left, allowing unobstructed access to the 25 foot diameter fuselage.

NASAs B377SGT Super Guppy Turbine Cargo Airplane lands at Moffett Field at NASA Ames.

NASA N941NA Superguppy at Moffett Field. Cargo is loaded into the Super Guppy when the aircraft's "fold-away" nose rotates 110 degrees to the left, allowing unobstructed access to the 25 foot diameter fuselage.

NASAs B377SGT Super Guppy Turbine Cargo Airplane lands at Moffett Field at NASA Ames.

NASA's Super Guppie flies over Marshall Space Flight Center's test stand 4693 in the west test area.

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NASA's Super Guppy in the hangar with SOFIA

NASA's Super Guppy Turbine cargo aircraft in the hangar with SOFIA at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center on August 24, 2021. The Super Guppy aircraft, operated by NASA's Johnson Space Center, aids in the transportation of oversized aerospace cargo in a practical and economical way. NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), maintained and operated by NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center, is the world's largest airborne astronomical observatory, complementing NASA's space telescopes as well as major Earth-based telescopes.

NASA's Super Guppy in the hangar at Armstrong Building 703

NASA's Super Guppy Turbine cargo aircraft in the hangar at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center on August 24, 2021. This unique whale-like aircraft arrived at the center's Building 703 in Palmdale, CA to support crews in the performance of routine maintenance. The Super Guppy aircraft, operated by NASA's Johnson Space Center, aids in the transportation of oversized aerospace cargo in a practical and economical way.

NASA's Super Guppy in the hangar at Armstrong Building 703

NASA's Super Guppy Turbine cargo aircraft in the hangar at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center on August 24, 2021. This unique whale-like aircraft arrived at the center's Building 703 in Palmdale, CA to support crews in the performance of routine maintenance. The Super Guppy aircraft, operated by NASA's Johnson Space Center, aids in the transportation of oversized aerospace cargo in a practical and economical way.

NASA's Super Guppy in the hangar at Armstrong Building 703

NASA's Super Guppy Turbine cargo aircraft in the hangar at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center on August 24, 2021. This unique whale-like aircraft arrived at the center's Building 703 in Palmdale, CA to support crews in the performance of routine maintenance. The Super Guppy aircraft, operated by NASA's Johnson Space Center, aids in the transportation of oversized aerospace cargo in a practical and economical way.

NASA’s Super Guppy in the hangar at Armstrong Building 703

NASA’s Super Guppy Turbine cargo aircraft in the hangar at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center on August 24, 2021. This unique whale-like aircraft arrived at the center’s Building 703 in Palmdale, CA to support crews in the performance of routine maintenance. The Super Guppy aircraft, operated by NASA’s Johnson Space Center, aids in the transportation of oversized aerospace cargo in a practical and economical way.

NASA's Super Guppy in the hangar at Armstrong Building 703

NASA's Super Guppy Turbine cargo aircraft in the hangar at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center on August 24, 2021. This unique whale-like aircraft arrived at the center's Building 703 in Palmdale, CA to support crews in the performance of routine maintenance. The Super Guppy aircraft, operated by NASA's Johnson Space Center, aids in the transportation of oversized aerospace cargo in a practical and economical way.

NASA’s Super Guppy in the hangar at Armstrong Building 703

NASA’s Super Guppy Turbine cargo aircraft in the hangar at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center on August 24, 2021. This unique whale-like aircraft arrived at the center’s Building 703 in Palmdale, CA to support crews in the performance of routine maintenance. The Super Guppy aircraft, operated by NASA’s Johnson Space Center, aids in the transportation of oversized aerospace cargo in a practical and economical way.

NASA's Super Guppy in the hangar at Armstrong Building 703

NASA's Super Guppy Turbine cargo aircraft in the hangar at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center on August 24, 2021. This unique whale-like aircraft arrived at the center's Building 703 in Palmdale, CA to support crews in the performance of routine maintenance. The Super Guppy aircraft, operated by NASA's Johnson Space Center, aids in the transportation of oversized aerospace cargo in a practical and economical way.

NASA’s Super Guppy in the hangar at Armstrong Building 703

NASA’s Super Guppy Turbine cargo aircraft in the hangar at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center on August 24, 2021. This unique whale-like aircraft arrived at the center’s Building 703 in Palmdale, CA to support crews in the performance of routine maintenance. The Super Guppy aircraft, operated by NASA’s Johnson Space Center, aids in the transportation of oversized aerospace cargo in a practical and economical way.

Saturn Apollo Program

Super Guppy, bigger sister of the aptly named Pregnant Guppy, was the only airplane in the world capable of carrying a complete S-IVB stage. This aircraft was built by John M. Conroy of Aero Spaceliners, Incorporated, who started with the fuselages of a surplus Boeing C-97 Stratocruiser, ballooned out the upper decks enormously, and hinged the front sections so that they could be folded back 110 degrees. The Super Guppy flew smoothly at a 250-mph cruising speed, and its cargo deck provided a 25-foot clear diameter.

X-38 vehicle #131R arrives at NASA Dryden via NASA'S Super Guppy transport aircraft

NASA's Super Guppy transport aircraft landed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. on July 11, 2000, to deliver the latest version of the X-38 drop vehicle to Dryden. The X-38s are intended as prototypes for a possible "crew lifeboat" for the International Space Station. The X-38 vehicle 131R will demonstrate a huge 7,500 square-foot parafoil that will that will enable the potential crew return vehicle to land on the length of a football field after returning from space. The crew return vehicle is intended to serve as a possible emergency transport to carry a crew to safety in the event of problems with the International Space Station. The Super Guppy evolved from the 1960s-vintage Pregnant Guppy, used for transporting outsized sections of the Apollo moon rocket. The Super Guppy was modified from 1950s-vintage Boeing C-97. NASA acquired its Super Guppy from the European Space Agency in 1997.

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - This Super Guppy aircraft rolls down the runway after landing at NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility. It has flown to the Center to pick up and transport the common module structural test element to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The common module is an aluminum canister used as a structural test element for an actual Space Station flight element. At Marshall, the module will be used to conduct advanced environmental control and life support testing for future NASA exploration missions. The Super Guppy aircraft has a unique hinged nose that can open more than 200 degrees, allowing large pieces of cargo to be loaded and unloaded from the front. Guppy aircraft were used in several past space programs, including Gemini, Apollo and Skylab, to transport spacecraft components. NASA personnel at Ellington Field outfitted the Super Guppy with a specially designed cradle to be used when carrying International Space Station components. The first Guppy aircraft was developed in 1962, designed specifically for NASA operations by Aero Spacelines of California. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - This Super Guppy aircraft is parked on NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility after landing. It has flown to the Center to pick up and transport the common module structural test element to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The common module is an aluminum canister used as a structural test element for an actual Space Station flight element. At Marshall, the module will be used to conduct advanced environmental control and life support testing for future NASA exploration missions. The Super Guppy aircraft has a unique hinged nose that can open more than 200 degrees, allowing large pieces of cargo to be loaded and unloaded from the front. Guppy aircraft were used in several past space programs, including Gemini, Apollo and Skylab, to transport spacecraft components. NASA personnel at Ellington Field outfitted the Super Guppy with a specially designed cradle to be used when carrying International Space Station components. The first Guppy aircraft was developed in 1962, designed specifically for NASA operations by Aero Spacelines of California. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - This Super Guppy aircraft approaches landing at NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility. It has flown to the Center to pick up and transport the common module structural test element to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The common module is an aluminum canister used as a structural test element for an actual Space Station flight element. At Marshall, the module will be used to conduct advanced environmental control and life support testing for future NASA exploration missions. The Super Guppy aircraft has a unique hinged nose that can open more than 200 degrees, allowing large pieces of cargo to be loaded and unloaded from the front. Guppy aircraft were used in several past space programs, including Gemini, Apollo and Skylab, to transport spacecraft components. NASA personnel at Ellington Field outfitted the Super Guppy with a specially designed cradle to be used when carrying International Space Station components. The first Guppy aircraft was developed in 1962, designed specifically for NASA operations by Aero Spacelines of California. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - This Super Guppy aircraft touches down on the runway at NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility. It has flown to the Center to pick up and transport the common module structural test element to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The common module is an aluminum canister used as a structural test element for an actual Space Station flight element. At Marshall, the module will be used to conduct advanced environmental control and life support testing for future NASA exploration missions. The Super Guppy aircraft has a unique hinged nose that can open more than 200 degrees, allowing large pieces of cargo to be loaded and unloaded from the front. Guppy aircraft were used in several past space programs, including Gemini, Apollo and Skylab, to transport spacecraft components. NASA personnel at Ellington Field outfitted the Super Guppy with a specially designed cradle to be used when carrying International Space Station components. The first Guppy aircraft was developed in 1962, designed specifically for NASA operations by Aero Spacelines of California. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Guppy Arrival for Orion EM-1 Crew Module Structural Test Article

NASA's Super Guppy airplane descends toward the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orion Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) structural test article will be loaded in the Super Guppy and transported to Lockheed Martin's Denver facility for testing. The Orion spacecraft will launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket on EM-1, its first deep space mission.

European Service Module-Structural Test Article Load onto Guppy

NASA's Super Guppy aircraft has arrived on the tarmac at the Shuttle Landing Facility, managed and operated by Space Florida, at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orion service module structural test article for Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), built by the European Space Agency, will be loaded into the Guppy for shipment to Lockheed Martin's Denver facility to undergo testing. The Orion spacecraft will launch atop the agency's Space Launch System rocket on EM-1 in 2019.

Guppy Arrival for Orion EM-1 Crew Module Structural Test Article

NASA's Super Guppy airplane touches down on the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orion Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) structural test article will be loaded in the Super Guppy and transported to Lockheed Martin's Denver facility for testing. The Orion spacecraft will launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket on EM-1, its first deep space mission.

European Service Module-Structural Test Article Load onto Guppy

NASA's Super Guppy aircraft touches down at the Shuttle Landing Facility, managed and operated by Space Florida, at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orion service module structural test article for Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), built by the European Space Agency, will be loaded into the Guppy for shipment to Lockheed Martin's Denver facility to undergo testing. The Orion spacecraft will launch atop the agency's Space Launch System rocket on EM-1 in 2019.

Guppy Arrival for Orion EM-1 Crew Module Structural Test Article

NASA's Super Guppy airplane touches down on the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orion Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) structural test article will be loaded in the Super Guppy and transported to Lockheed Martin's Denver facility for testing. The Orion spacecraft will launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket on EM-1, its first deep space mission.

Guppy Arrival for Orion EM-1 Crew Module Structural Test Article

NASA's Super Guppy airplane descends toward the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orion Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) structural test article will be loaded in the Super Guppy and transported to Lockheed Martin's Denver facility for testing. The Orion spacecraft will launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket on EM-1, its first deep space mission.

Orion CSM Load onto Guppy

NASA’s Orion spacecraft is loaded into the agency’s Super Guppy aircraft at the Launch and Landing Facility runway at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 21, 2019. The spacecraft’s crew and service modules are flying to NASA’s Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio, for full thermal vacuum testing. In this unique facility, the crew and service modules will be put through extensive testing to ensure they can survive the rigors of launch, space travel, re-entry and splashdown. The Orion spacecraft will launch atop the agency's Space Launch System rocket on Artemis I.

Orion CSM Load onto Guppy

NASA’s Orion spacecraft is loaded into the agency’s Super Guppy aircraft at the Launch and Landing Facility runway at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 21, 2019. The spacecraft’s crew and service modules are flying to NASA’s Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio, for full thermal vacuum testing. In this unique facility, the crew and service modules will be put through extensive testing to ensure they can survive the rigors of launch, space travel, re-entry and splashdown. The Orion spacecraft will launch atop the agency's Space Launch System rocket on Artemis I.

Orion CSM Load onto Guppy

NASA’s Orion spacecraft is loaded into the agency’s Super Guppy aircraft at the Launch and Landing Facility runway at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 21, 2019. The spacecraft’s crew and service modules are flying to NASA’s Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio, for full thermal vacuum testing. In this unique facility, the crew and service modules will be put through extensive testing to ensure they can survive the rigors of launch, space travel, re-entry and splashdown. The Orion spacecraft will launch atop the agency's Space Launch System rocket on Artemis I.

Orion CSM Load onto Guppy

NASA’s Orion spacecraft is loaded into the agency’s Super Guppy aircraft at the Launch and Landing Facility runway at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 21, 2019. The spacecraft’s crew and service modules are flying to NASA’s Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio, for full thermal vacuum testing. In this unique facility, the crew and service modules will be put through extensive testing to ensure they can survive the rigors of launch, space travel, re-entry and splashdown. The Orion spacecraft will launch atop the agency's Space Launch System rocket on Artemis I.

NASA's Super Guppy cargo transport aircraft coming in for landing at Plant 42 in Palmdale, California on April 1, 2019.

NASA's Super Guppy Arrives to Armstrong Building 703 for Maintenance

NASA’s Super Guppy cargo transport aircraft parked on the ramp in front of NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703.

NASA’s Super Guppy Arrives to Armstrong Building 703 for Maintenance

Guppy Arrival and Offload of Orion STA

NASA’s Super Guppy arrives at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Sept. 11, 2020, carrying the Orion Service Module Structural Test Article (SM-STA). Composed of the European Service Module (ESM) and crew module adapter (CMA), these components mark the completion of the test campaign to certify Orion’s Service Module for Artemis I. The Orion SM-STA is being offloaded for transport to the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. The first in a series of increasingly complex missions, Artemis I will test the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System as an integrated system ahead of crewed flights to the Moon. Under the Artemis program, NASA will land the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024. Photo credit:

Guppy Arrival and Offload of Orion STA

NASA’s Super Guppy arrives at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility in Florida on Sept. 11, 2020, carrying the Orion Service Module Structural Test Article (SM-STA). Composed of the European Service Module (ESM) and crew module adapter (CMA), these components mark the completion of the test campaign to certify Orion’s Service Module for Artemis I. The Orion SM-STA is being offloaded for transport to the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. The first in a series of increasingly complex missions, Artemis I will test the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System as an integrated system ahead of crewed flights to the Moon. Under the Artemis program, NASA will land the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024.

Artemis I Orion departs Michoud Assembly Facility for Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Feb. 1, 2016. The vessel was loaded onto NASA's Super Guppy cargo aircraft. Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

Orion EM-1 pressure vessel ships to Kennedy on the Super Guppy

Orion Spacecraft Arrives in Ohio Aboard the Super Guppy at Mansfield Lahm Airport