On this day in space! Aug. 31, 1965: NASA's ginormous Super Guppy carrier plane takes 1st flight like a flying whale

On August 31, 1965, NASA's Super Guppy cargo plane made its maiden flight, resembling a massive flying whale. Manufactured by Aero Spacelines and based on the Boeing B-377 Stratocruiser, this remarkable aircraft was designed to transport large cargo such as spacecraft parts and smaller aircraft. At the time, it was crucial for transporting Apollo program rocket stages from California to Florida.

The Super Guppy boasts an enormous cargo compartment measuring 25 feet tall, 25 feet wide, and 111 feet long, capable of carrying payloads weighing over 26 tons.

Loading cargo into the plane was a straightforward process - its nose would simply hinge open, allowing oversize loads to slide in effortlessly. The original Super Guppy was retired in 1991 and now resides at the Pima Air Museum in Tucson, Arizona. NASA continues to operate a newer model of the Super Guppy, first taking flight on June 27, 2012, carrying NASA's space shuttle trainer crew cabin to the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.

Beyond its impressive capabilities, the Super Guppy has played a vital role in moving large spacecraft components across the country for NASA. It has ferried everything from retired T-38 supersonic jets to a prototype X-38 space lifeboat and major components for NASA's Artemis program, such as Orion space capsules, heat shields, and Space Launch System megarocket parts.

While the original Super Guppy is on display at the Pima Air Museum, NASA's active cargo plane is based out of the El Paso International Airport in El Paso, Texas, where it awaits repairs after sustaining damage during a severe storm. NASA is also planning a significant aerospace expo called Max Power, for which the Super Guppy may make a return appearance.