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Why does NASA Need Fighter Jets

Summary

They call them ‘chase planes’. They’re a fleet of fighter aircraft of the type usually operated by the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. But these fast jets have a different mission – helping turn pilots into astronauts, and keeping a watchful eye on Nasa’s spacecraft and experimental aircraft. The chase planes are often used to monitor other Nasa vehicles in flight.
The fleet currently includes F-15s and the US Navy’s F/A-18, both of which are used to record test flights, but also to keep future astronauts’ flying skills maintained.

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