September 21, 2012
1 min read
Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmSpace Shuttles, Lasers and Doomsday Bases: Amazing Payloads for 747s [Slide Show]
Ferrying space shuttles across the country is just one of the very odd jobs given to the workhorse jumbo jet
By John Matson
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
The number 747 is so ubiquitous, having adorned the sides of so many aircraft over the decades, that it has become almost synonymous with the jet airliner. Some 3.5 billion people have flown on 747s, according to Boeing, which has manufactured more than 1,400 since the first 747-100 left the factory in 1968.
But not all 747s wound up in regular passenger or cargo service. Today, for instance, one of NASA’s two Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is ferrying the retired space shuttle Endeavour to Los Angeles for display in a museum. Another NASA-owned 747 cruises the skies with an open payload bay, exposing a giant infrared telescope to the heavens. Other aircraft of the same lineage can help fight fires, shoot down missiles or serve as a command center for U.S. government VIPs in the case of nuclear attack or other catastrophe.
Check out the five of the most unique ways 747s have been put to use in this slideshow.
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.
