NASA's 777 Flying Laboratory
NASA's new flying laboratory — successor to forty years of the DC-8
Tail number N577NA
The story
For forty years NASA's DC-8 flew low over ice sheets and hurricanes so scientists could measure what satellites can't. When she retired in 2024, NASA bought a Boeing 777 to carry the torch — a widebody airliner being rebuilt as the agency's new flagship airborne science laboratory, with instrument ports where windows used to be.
Before NASA, she spent two decades flying passengers for Japan Airlines. Now the cabin is filling up with instrument racks instead of seats.
Quick answers
What is the tail number of NASA's 777 Flying Laboratory?
N577NA (Boeing 777-200ER).
What kind of aircraft is NASA's 777 Flying Laboratory?
Boeing 777-200ER.
Is it still flying?
Yes, it is still active.
The type
More space & science
Will NASA's 777 Flying Laboratory cross your map?
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