Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy
Infrared telescope mounted on a converted Boeing 747 SP (2010–2022)
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy
The Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) was an 80/20 joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to construct and maintain an airborne observatory. NASA awarded the contract for development of the aircraft, operation of the observatory and management of the American part of the project to the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) in 1996. The DSI (German SOFIA Institute; German: Deutsches SOFIA Institut) managed the German parts of the project which were primarily science-and telescope-related. SOFIA's telescope saw first light on May 26, 2010. SOFIA was the successor to the Kuiper Airborne Observatory. During 10-hour, overnight flights, it observed celestial magnetic fields, star-forming regions, comets, nebulae, and the Galactic Center. Science flights concluded after the landing of the 921st and final flight in the early morning of September 29, 2022. The Boeing 747SP that carried the telescope has been preserved and put on display at the...
Read on Wikipedia · Image NASA/USRA/David Faust, Public domain
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