NASA's Flying Observatory Has 17-Ton Telescope
- 10 years ago
NASA has a 17-ton telescope called the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, known by its acronym SOFIA, onboard a Boeing 747 airplane. It can fly for more than 12 consecutive hours with a flight range of just over 76 hundred miles.
NASA has a 17-ton telescope called the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, known by its acronym SOFIA, mounted onboard a Boeing 747 Special Performance airplane.
The highly modified jet can fly for more than 12 consecutive hours with a flight range of just over 76 hundred miles.
It is equipped with a 16 by 23 foot sliding door that opens to let the telescope see into space.
Observing space from the edge of the atmosphere at heights of up to 45 thousand feet in the troposphere gives astronomers a clearer view than telescopes on the surface of Earth.
Also, observing space from a mobile location is better for tracking changing cosmic events like supernovas and comets.
SOFIA recently landed in Germany for five months of maintenance and testing before it is assigned to carry out the 100 observation flights that are planned for 2015.
NASA is collaborating on the project with the German Aerospace Center, and they predict that SOFIA will be able to fly for another 20 years.
NASA has a 17-ton telescope called the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, known by its acronym SOFIA, mounted onboard a Boeing 747 Special Performance airplane.
The highly modified jet can fly for more than 12 consecutive hours with a flight range of just over 76 hundred miles.
It is equipped with a 16 by 23 foot sliding door that opens to let the telescope see into space.
Observing space from the edge of the atmosphere at heights of up to 45 thousand feet in the troposphere gives astronomers a clearer view than telescopes on the surface of Earth.
Also, observing space from a mobile location is better for tracking changing cosmic events like supernovas and comets.
SOFIA recently landed in Germany for five months of maintenance and testing before it is assigned to carry out the 100 observation flights that are planned for 2015.
NASA is collaborating on the project with the German Aerospace Center, and they predict that SOFIA will be able to fly for another 20 years.