Could See 3.5 Trillion More Stars at 80,000 Feet Than You Can on the Ground": an SR-71 Pilot Over the Korean DMZ on a Moonless Night.

Former SR-71 pilot David Peters, flying over the Korean DMZ from Kadena on a moonless night, described a sky view that’s largely impossible from the ground: he said observers could see “3.5 trillion” more stars at 80,000 feet than at sea level, citing Palomar Mountain Observatory. The Blackbird flew above 95% of Earth’s atmosphere and is often credited with outrunning more than 4,000 missiles during its service. The article also revisits how the aircraft managed fuel: JP-7 leaked on purpose onto runways during sorties, while loosely fitting panels sealed as titanium reached roughly 400°F and fuel exceeded 300°F. The aircraft could later refuel from tankers, and its cameras covered large areas rapidly.