this post was submitted on 29 Sep 2026
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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 5 days ago by Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 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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[–] cardboardboxfort@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago

As cool as they are this is the truth. Once spy satellites began transmitting digital images (the first few used film and dropped capsules back to earth to be developed) the SR71 began obsolete and too risky to fly.

Now we have satellites that are constantly observing the "hot spots" around the planet which is safer than having pilots fly across enemy airspace.

My guess is NASA is using these to test supersonic attributes since they have tons of data on the SR71 and NASA is currently developing supersonic planes that don't create sonic booms.