Strange Transportation!

I see many fascinating sites at Kennedy Space Center every day. My recent viewing of the Super Guppy at the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) was no exception! I happened to be at the SLF filming for the Space Team Online "Landing to Launch series" and had the good fortune of catching a glimpse of this fascinating aircraft because the winds that day kept it from leaving Kennedy Space Center. You would think that an aircraft this bizarre must have a special purpose - and it does. The NASA owned B-377 "Super Guppy" was developed to transport components of the International Space Station. The Supper Guppy is powered by four 7000 horsepower turboprop engines. Three to four crewmembers operate the Super Guppy (SG). The nose of the Super Guppy has the ability to swing open up to 110 degrees to allow cargo to be loaded into it. Previous designs of the Guppy aircraft have been used in several past space programs, including Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab, to transport spacecraft components. The first Guppy aircraft was developed in 1962, designed specifically for NASA operations by Aero Spacelines of California. In the upper left picture, you are viewing the Super Guppy on the Shuttle Landing Facility parking ramp. The structure to the right of the aircraft is the mate / de-mate device (MDD). The MDD is used to lift an orbiter while a specialized 747 aircraft moves underneath it. The orbiter is then mounted to the 747 for transport.

This is a closer shot of the Super Guppy. It is a very important asset to the International Space Station. Without the Super Guppy, International Space Station components would have to use other methods of transportation such as railroad, sea transport, highway and barges. As you can imagine, each of these methods of transportation could cause delays in the delivery of the components. Highway overpasses would have to be considered because they may not be high enough to allow a truck to go underneath it. Sea transport would be costly and may expose the cargo to harsh condition such as salt air and moisture. None of the options can deliver the cargo faster than the Super Guppy can!

Click on the graphic at left to see the animated file of the Super Guppy. The graphic at right is an animation showing the front of the Guppy being opened to receive the Destiny module - how cool! I would like to thank Daren Savage for allowing me to use this animated files.

Here are some more interesting facts about the Super Guppy:

Cruise Speed at 25,000 Feet - 290 mph Range - 2,000 miles
Maximum Payload - 52,500 pounds
Aircraft Empty Weight - 101,500 pounds
Maximum Landing Weight - 160,000 pounds
Maximum Takeoff Weight - 170,000 pounds

Aircraft Dimensions

Height to top of fuselage - 36 feet, 8 inches Height to top of tail - 48 feet, 6 inches
Length - 143 feet, 10 inches
Wingspan - 156 feet, 3 inches

Cargo Compartment Dimensions

Height above ground level - 11 feet, 0 inches Maximum width (floor level) - 13 feet, 0 inches
Maximum width - 25 feet, 1 inch
Maximum height - 25 feet, 6 inches
Length (Constant section) - 32 feet, 0 inches
Length (Overall) - 111 feet, 6 inches
Volume - 39,000 cubic feet