Effective April 1, 2024, the US agency NASA has retired a special aircraft. A Douglas DC-8 that served as a flying laboratory has completed its final official mission.

The aging machine was converted many years ago, according to NASA, and was most recently based in Building 703 at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Palmdale, California, and is used to collect data for experiments in support of projects serving the global scientific community.

The data collected by aircraft at altitude and via remote sensing have been used for studies in archaeology, ecology, geography, hydrology, meteorology, oceanography, volcanology, atmospheric chemistry, cryosphere research, soil science and biology. Four types of missions were flown with the DC-8: sensor development, satellite sensor verification, telemetry data retrieval during spacecraft launch or re-entry and optical tracking, and other research studies of the Earth's surface and atmosphere.

Because it was flown in Earth's atmosphere, the DC-8 provides a relatively inexpensive way to test and verify prototype satellite instruments. Scientists use the DC-8 to develop ideas for instrument technology as well as test new instruments and modify them if necessary based on flight results. Potential problems can be addressed before new instruments are launched. As a result, flight-proven hardware can result in significant savings in time and resources.

The DC-8 conducted the AS-CENDS (Active Sensing of CO2016 Emissions over Nights, Days and Seasons) campaign during the winter of 2 to demonstrate the improved performance of airborne lidar instruments used to remotely measure atmospheric carbon dioxide. The flights were conducted over different landscapes - ocean, city, tall forests and snow - to test the effects of surface reflection on the instrument's performance. Space-based lasers would find the same type of surfaces if used to study components of Earth's atmosphere. This research will contribute to the further development of laser-based Earth observation satellite instruments used to measure atmospheric carbon dioxide.

The aircraft, which has now been taken out of service, was in NASA service for 37 years. It was previously used as a passenger aircraft. The four-jet engine was originally delivered to Alitalia in 1969. Since February 1986, after extensive renovation, the machine has functioned as NASA's flying laboratory.

The 55-year-old jet should not be scrapped. Idaho State University will be provided with this Douglas DC-8 and will use it as a teaching tool for aspiring aircraft technicians. However, the former long-haul aircraft will no longer take off because it will be used as a training object on the ground.