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NASA mysteriously trying to pull world’s fastest plane, SR-71 Blackbird, out of retirement — and won’t say why (nypost.com)
submitted 1 month ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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Seeing Blackbird fly again after all these years would be incredible. I'd love to know what NASA has planned for it.

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[–] 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

The SR-71 can get up to 85k feet, so there are conceivable applications.

But this is a plane that already exists, largely for the purpose of surveillance. It's only "military" in the sense that it was requisitioned by the air force. It's not armed.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    You're right, but I was focusing more on how NASA isn't exactly overflowing with funding. Even if they roll them out of mothballs fueling it alone is going to be pretty expensive.

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