NASA's Boeing 777 was heavily modified in Waco, Texas, to transition from a passenger aircraft to an advanced airborne science laboratory. These modifications included installing custom research stations, extensive wiring to integrate instruments like lidar and infrared spectrometers, and enlarging windows and fuselage portals to mount remote-sensing devices.
The 777 replaces NASA's retired DC-8, increasing research capacity with the ability to carry 50 to 100 operators and up to 75,000 pounds of equipment for flights lasting as long as 18 hours. This upgrade is intended to enhance data collection capabilities for studying Earth's systems and environmental changes.
Source & further reading
NASA’s 777 Aircraft Returns Home with Science Flights on the Horizon ↗Source published 2026-04-22. This report was prepared with AI assistance from the linked primary-source material. Claims and limitations should be checked against the original announcement or research.