NASA's DC-8 airborne science laboratory returned to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center recently after an absence of more than two years. The venerable flying science lab's missions had been managed by the University of North Dakota since late 2005, although Dryden flight crews continued to operate the aircraft on worldwide data gathering missions. The converted jetliner is the first science aircraft to be based at Dryden's new Aircraft Operations Facility adjacent to Air Force Plant 42 in nearby Palmdale. Four other NASA science aircraft are planned to be based there.
NASA/Tony Landis
2007-11-08
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