Oct. 12, 2007

Grey Hautaluoma 
Headquarters, Washington 
202-358-0668
grey.hautaluoma-1@nasa.gov

Beth Hagenauer
Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif.
661-276-7960
beth.hagenauer@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 07-225

SOFIA OBSERVATORY ENTERS AIRCRAFT TESTING PHASE

EDWARDS, Calif. - NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared 
Astronomy, known as SOFIA, began a series of flight tests Thursday of 
the highly modified Boeing 747SP aircraft. The tests are the first of 
several phases required to verify the aircraft is structurally sound 
for future science flights. This phase is scheduled to be completed 
by the end of this year. 

After finishing flight testing and modifications, NASA plans to begin 
using the airborne observatory for "first light" infrared 
observations of the universe in 2009. The first light flights will 
enable the mission to begin obtaining results several years before 
the observatory reaches its full capability in 2014. SOFIA will 
collect science data using a variety of specialized instruments 
developed by NASA and its German partners. 

"SOFIA is making tremendous progress toward the initiation of science 
observations in 2009, and this flight testing is another milestone 
along the path," said Jon Morse, director of the Astrophysics 
Division in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, 
Washington. "Early observations will have significant science 
community involvement to initiate broad use of this unique 
astronomical observatory."

When operational, SOFIA's 2.5-meter infrared telescope will conduct 
celestial observations while flying at altitudes up to 45,000 feet. 
This height will place the instrument above almost 99 percent of the 
Earth's atmospheric water vapor, greatly enhancing its ability to 
observe the cosmos. The flying observatory is designed to detect the 
formation of stars in our galaxy, determine the chemical composition 
of the interstellar medium, and peer through the dust that hides the 
black hole at the center of the Milky Way. 

During mission development, engineers installed a 17-metric-ton 
telescope in SOFIA's aft fuselage at L-3 Communications Integrated 
Systems facility in Waco, Texas. They also cut a 16-foot-high 
telescope door into the fuselage during the telescope installation 
process. 

After arrival at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, 
Calif., the aircraft was outfitted with test instrumentation critical 
for these preliminary flight tests. The aircraft also has been 
equipped with a telescope cavity environmental control system 
designed to keep the telescope dry when the door is closed and as the 
aircraft flies to the altitude required for operation of the 
observatory. 

NASA is conducting the first series of flight tests with the cavity 
door closed. These flights will study the aerodynamics, structural 
integrity, stability and control, and handling qualities of the 
modified aircraft. Future flights will concentrate on the in-flight 
rotational motion and control of the German-built telescope. 

After closed-door flight testing is complete, the flying observatory 
will undergo installation and integration of the remaining elements 
of the observatory before door-open test flights, which are scheduled 
to begin in late 2008. 

"The largest technical challenges remaining are in 2008, with the 
remainder of the mission sub-system installation that will give the 
aircraft the ability to fly with the cavity door open," said SOFIA 
aircraft project manager John Carter at Dryden. 

The program is a partnership of NASA and the German Aerospace Center. 
Dryden manages SOFIA with science elements of the program managed by 
NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.

For more information about SOFIA, visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov/sofia 

	
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