Federal award (DEFINITIVE CONTRACT, fiscal year 2022)
Recipient: UNIVERSITIES SPACE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION
Awarding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration / National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Funding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration / National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Period of performance: 1996-12-15 to 2017-09-30
Current total value of award: $607138900
Description: THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO DEVELOP AND OPERATE OF THE STRATOSPHERIC OBSERVATORY FOR INFRARED ASTRONOMY (SOFIA). SOFIA IS THE LARGEST AIRBORNE OBSERVATORY IN THE WORLD, STUDYING THE UNIVERSE AT INFRARED WAVELENGTHS, CAPABLE OF MAKING OBSERVATIONS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE FOR EVEN THE LARGEST AND HIGHEST GROUND-BASED TELESCOPES. DURING ITS PLANNED 20 YEAR LIFETIME, SOFIA ALSO WILL INSPIRE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION AND FOSTER THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS.