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.

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

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

Orion Spacecraft Arrives in Ohio Aboard the Super Guppy at Mansf

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.

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.

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

NASA N941NA Superguppy lands at the 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 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 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.

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

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

Front view of NASA’s Super Guppy cargo transport aircraft as it taxis in at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 ramp.

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

MPLM Transfer to Super Guppy

The Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), used during the Space Shuttle Program to transfer cargo to and from the International Space Station, is loaded into NASA's Super Guppy aircraft at the Launch and Landing Facility runway at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 25, 2023. The MPLM will be transported to Ellington Field in Houston, where it will then be transported by road to Axiom’s facility near Ellington to be utilized to further commercialization of space. Three MPLMs were built by Thales Alenia Space Italia (TASI) for the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and named after Italian masters (Leonardo, Raffaello, and Donatello). Only two ever flew to the space station, Leonardo and Raffaello, with Axiom intending to use the Raffaello module as a future element that will attach to a segment being built by the company for addition to the station.

MPLM Transfer to Super Guppy

NASA's Super Guppy aircraft lifts off from the Launch and Landing Facility runway at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 25, 2023. Carrying the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), used during the Space Shuttle Program to transfer cargo to and from the International Space Station, the aircraft is transporting the module to Ellington Field in Houston, where it will then be transported by road to Axiom’s facility near Ellington to be utilized to further commercialization of space. Three MPLMs were built by Thales Alenia Space Italia (TASI) for the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and named after Italian masters (Leonardo, Raffaello, and Donatello). Only two ever flew to the space station, Leonardo and Raffaello, with Axiom intending to use the Raffaello module as a future element that will attach to a segment being built by the company for addition to the station.

MPLM Transfer to Super Guppy

The Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), used during the Space Shuttle Program to transfer cargo to and from the International Space Station, is loaded into NASA's Super Guppy aircraft at the Launch and Landing Facility runway at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 25, 2023. The MPLM will be transported to Ellington Field in Houston, where it will then be transported by road to Axiom’s facility near Ellington to be utilized to further commercialization of space. Three MPLMs were built by Thales Alenia Space Italia (TASI) for the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and named after Italian masters (Leonardo, Raffaello, and Donatello). Only two ever flew to the space station, Leonardo and Raffaello, with Axiom intending to use the Raffaello module as a future element that will attach to a segment being built by the company for addition to the station.

MPLM Transfer to Super Guppy

The Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), used during the Space Shuttle Program to transfer cargo to and from the International Space Station, is loaded into NASA's Super Guppy aircraft at the Launch and Landing Facility runway at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 25, 2023. The MPLM will be transported to Ellington Field in Houston, where it will then be transported by road to Axiom’s facility near Ellington to be utilized to further commercialization of space. Three MPLMs were built by Thales Alenia Space Italia (TASI) for the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and named after Italian masters (Leonardo, Raffaello, and Donatello). Only two ever flew to the space station, Leonardo and Raffaello, with Axiom intending to use the Raffaello module as a future element that will attach to a segment being built by the company for addition to the station.

MPLM Transfer to Super Guppy

The Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), used during the Space Shuttle Program to transfer cargo to and from the International Space Station, is loaded into NASA's Super Guppy aircraft at the Launch and Landing Facility runway at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 25, 2023. The MPLM will be transported to Ellington Field in Houston, where it will then be transported by road to Axiom’s facility near Ellington to be utilized to further commercialization of space. Three MPLMs were built by Thales Alenia Space Italia (TASI) for the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and named after Italian masters (Leonardo, Raffaello, and Donatello). Only two ever flew to the space station, Leonardo and Raffaello, with Axiom intending to use the Raffaello module as a future element that will attach to a segment being built by the company for addition to the station.

MPLM Transfer to Super Guppy

NASA's Super Guppy aircraft lifts off from the Launch and Landing Facility runway at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 25, 2023. Carrying the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), used during the Space Shuttle Program to transfer cargo to and from the International Space Station, the aircraft is transporting the module to Ellington Field in Houston, where it will then be transported by road to Axiom’s facility near Ellington to be utilized to further commercialization of space. Three MPLMs were built by Thales Alenia Space Italia (TASI) for the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and named after Italian masters (Leonardo, Raffaello, and Donatello). Only two ever flew to the space station, Leonardo and Raffaello, with Axiom intending to use the Raffaello module as a future element that will attach to a segment being built by the company for addition to the station.

Marshall Space Flight Center public affairs officer, Brian Massey, interviews Gregory Johnson, NASA's Super Guppie pilot, after the arrival of the aircraft to ferry the Orion stage adapter to Denver, Colorado for further testing.

MSFC-1700816

Saturn Apollo Program

The Super Guppy is shown at the Redstone Airstrip. NASA used the aircraft to transport the S-IVB upper stage used on the Saturn IB and Saturn V launch vehicles between manufacturing facilities on the West coast, and testing and launch facilities in the Southeast. 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.

NASA's Super Guppy airplane arrives in New Orleans, Louisiana on Jan. 31, 2016. The Guppy will transport Orion's Artemis I crew module pressure vessel to Kennedy Space Center for final assembly. Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

Orion is loaded on Super Guppy

NASA's Super Guppy cargo transport aircraft taxis in from the Plant 42 runway to NASA"s Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 ramp. The aircraft is being stored in the hangar during its phase maintenance check.

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

The Artemis I Orion crew module pressure vessel is loaded on NASA's Super Guppy plane in New Orleans for transport to Kennedy Space Center on Feb. 1, 2016. Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

Orion is loaded on Super Guppy