NASA Rocket Transporter Apparently Loses An Engine, RTB's Without Issue 

On October 20 th at 11:24am Kennedy Space Center time N941NA, the NASA B377SGT, Super Guppy, departed KSC. 

The departure was normal with a left turn to the west. Shortly after departure the aircraft turned to south and then back to the west before turning to a return course to KSC.

The Guppy landed normally at KSC at 11:47with one engine appearing to be inoperative.

Although NASA has not confirmed what happened, sources on Twitter state that there may have been an engine fire detection alarm and the crew responded as per standard procedures.

At last report, the aircraft is on the ground awaiting servicing.

The Guppy had reportedly just delivered an Orion heat shield. NASA 941, entered service in 1953 as a United States Air Force Boeing C-97G Stratotanker and was later converted to an enlarged cargo carrier for the Saturn rocket’s S-IVB stages.

This 1961 conversion eliminated the protracted trip from the S-IVB manufacturer’s plant in California by sea-going barge. California-based Aero Spaceline Industries did the modification and originally nick-named the aircraft the “Pregnant Guppy.” In 1965 the guppy concept was enlarged from a 19 foot diameter cargo hold to a 25 foot hold.

Additionally, later Allison T-56 turboprops were used to replace the piston engines and the Super Guppy was born. The Super Guppy has continued to support NASA and DOD needs for six decades and will likely carry on after minor servicing.

FMI: www.nasa.gov