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| ]. The black square on the fuselage near the tail houses the observatory telescope.]] | ]. The black square on the fuselage near the tail houses the observatory telescope.]] | ||
| The '''Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy''' (SOFIA) is a joint project of ] and DLR, the ]. SOFIA is a ] ] modified to carry a 2.5 |
The '''Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy''' (SOFIA) is a joint project of ] and DLR, the ]. SOFIA is a ] ] modified to carry a 2.5 meter diameter ] ] for use as an ] at altitudes in the ]. The telescope looks out of a large door in the side of the ] near the airplane's tail, and will initially carry nine instruments for ] in ]s from 0.35-665 ]s. | ||
| SOFIA completed its first airborne "in-sky" test on ]-] ] by taking a picture of the star ]. The observatory is still undergoing test flights. When testing is complete, it is hoped that observing flights will be flown 3 or 4 nights a week for the next 20 years. | SOFIA completed its first airborne "in-sky" test on ]-] ] by taking a picture of the star ]. The observatory is still undergoing test flights. When testing is complete, it is hoped that observing flights will be flown 3 or 4 nights a week for the next 20 years. | ||
Revision as of 18:01, 21 September 2004
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The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is a joint project of NASA and DLR, the German Aerospace Center. SOFIA is a Boeing 747SP airliner modified to carry a 2.5 meter diameter infrared reflecting telescope for use as an astronomical observatory at altitudes in the stratosphere. The telescope looks out of a large door in the side of the fuselage near the airplane's tail, and will initially carry nine instruments for infrared astronomy in wavelengths from 0.35-665 micrometres.
SOFIA completed its first airborne "in-sky" test on 18-19 August 2004 by taking a picture of the star Polaris. The observatory is still undergoing test flights. When testing is complete, it is hoped that observing flights will be flown 3 or 4 nights a week for the next 20 years.
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