NASA’s new WB-57F (high-altitude aircraft) flies for the first time in 41 years

Re:NASA’s new WB-57F (high-altitude aircraft) flies for the ... by Theodores on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @02:22AM (#11618354)

I got the restoration but I didn't get what this plane is actually to be used for. Why do they need this plane? How will it help open up the first tourist hotels on Mars? Seems going backwards to space exploration.

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Re:NASA’s new WB-57F (high-altitude aircraft) flies for the ... by Sanddancer on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @04:36AM (#11618890)

Aeronautical research. The Aeronautics part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration isn't just a bygone relic. Their most visible projects are their space side, but they do a fuckton of research into making planes fly better/faster/safer. They do research on new control methods of planes, new geometries, how weather phenomena affect planes, etc.

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Re:NASA’s new WB-57F (high-altitude aircraft) flies for the ... by softrock on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @02:27AM (#11618372)

NASA does much much more than just space exploration.

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