NASA Completes Kuiper Deconstruction, Plans for Display
- NASA has completed the deconstruction, disposal, and preservation of historic parts from its decommissioned Kuiper Airborne Observatory.
- The Kuiper Airborne Observatory conducted over two decades of astronomical observations from 1975 to 1995 as part of NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley.
- Historic parts of the Kuiper will be displayed at two locations: the Pima Air & Space Museum in Arizona, featuring the cockpit, and the Moffett Field Museum in California, showcasing the telescope.
- The planned deconstruction was part of NASA’s efforts to preserve its legacy while also ensuring safe disposal of decommissioned assets.
- These displays will provide a unique opportunity for the public to learn about and appreciate the contributions of the Kuiper Airborne Observatory to astronomical research.
A Volvo Crawler Excavator severs the airframe, separating the tail section from the fuselage, of the modified C-141 Kuiper Airborne Observatory at Moffett Field, California.
NASA
The planned deconstruction, disposal, and preservation of historic parts of NASA’s decommissioned Kuiper Airborne Observatory is complete. Part of the airborne astronomy legacy of NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, Kuiper conducted more than two decades of astronomical observations from 1975 to 1995. Later this year, the Kuiper cockpit will go on display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Pima, Arizona, where NASA’s retired SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) aircraft is located, while its telescope will go on display at the Moffett Field Museum in the NASA Research Park.
Author: Cara Dodge
Q. What is the name of the NASA project that has been deconstructed?
A. The Kuiper Airborne Observatory.
Q. When did the Kuiper Airborne Observatory conduct its astronomical observations?
A. From 1975 to 1995.
Q. Where is the Kuiper cockpit going on display?
A. At the Pima Air & Space Museum in Pima, Arizona.
Q. What will be displayed at the Moffett Field Museum?
A. The telescope of the Kuiper Airborne Observatory.
Q. Why was the Kuiper Airborne Observatory decommissioned?
A. (Not mentioned in the text)
Q. Where is the SOFIA aircraft located?
A. At the Pima Air & Space Museum in Pima, Arizona.
Q. What type of vehicle was used to deconstruct the Kuiper Airframe?
A. A Volvo Crawler Excavator.
Q. Why is the preservation and disposal of historic parts important?
A. (Not mentioned in the text)
Q. Where is the Moffett Field Museum located?
A. In the NASA Research Park.
Q. What was the main purpose of the Kuiper Airborne Observatory?
A. To conduct astronomical observations.