NASA's Boeing 777 aircraft has received a new paint scheme, the agency reported on Aug. 18, 2026, publishing a photo taken Aug. 11, 2026, credited to NASA's James Blair. The aircraft is shown after returning to NASA's Langley Research Center.

According to NASA, the B777 was acquired to replace and extend the capabilities of the NASA DC-8, which was retired in 2024. The agency said the aircraft is set to begin operations from Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, in 2027, as a flying laboratory with global reach.

NASA described the planned work as supporting sensor development, satellite sensor calibration, data product validation and field studies aimed at better understanding Earth system processes to improve models and decision-making. The 2027 start date is a planned schedule reported as of the Aug. 18, 2026, article, not a confirmed outcome.