The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range strategic bomber designed and developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. The type has been in service with the United States Air Force (USAF) for over 70 years. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been operating the type for over 40 years. The B-52 has the capability of 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) of weapons and a combat range of 8,800 miles (14,200 km). Despite entering service with the USAF over seven decades ago, the USAF still operates 72 examples of the type.