Converted 747SP that is SOFIA
The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA made its first checkout flight recently. The flight marked a new day in transitioning work with the aircraft from significant modification to the start of flight tests, completion of subsystems integration and, eventually, to the task of exploring the heavens.
The SOFIA still has a way to go before routinely engaging in science flights. Progress is measurable, however, and it’s expected that flight tests to validate the structural modifications to the aircraft will begin this fall, said Bob Meyer, SOFIA program manager.
45,000 lb. infrared telescope
Read the whole article. Check out one of the videos. I just got round to watching a subscribed iTunes download from NASA about this, yesterday afternoon – it’s fascinating research and serious engineering and redesign to make it work.
Oh, it’s used to observe stars… Uh huh…
Interesting, all the observatory pictures on the SOFIA web site are from the Spitzer Space Telescope.
The key statement I read from the web site is “Mobility makes the SOFIA a valuable asset.”
The web site also points out
“Although it will be years before full-scale science operations begin”
“The SOFIA is expected to be an improvement over the storied and now-retired Kuiper Astronomy Observatory aircraft that for 21 years was operated by Ames Research Center, said SOFIA Chief Scientist Eric Becklin.”
As far as what the SOFIA aim is, the Spitzer Space Telescope can do that. This effort seems more about developing a technology then really yielding key scientific breakthroughs in fundamental questions about the universe! That is, are spending money for hard science or for questionable technology development?
All in all, I would rather spend money through Nasa then on IRAQ.
“The SOFIA is expected to be a key component of the NASA astrophysics program, aimed at exploring fundamental questions about the universe. “
Some great stories of Kuiper adventures:
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/watchtheskies/kuiper.html
What a great project. The Kuiper was incredible, but I couldn’t get a tour. Now I can’t decide whether I’d rather fly the four-seven or operate the scope. Dang.
Here’s the official SOFIA website (be sure to check out the multimedia link):
http://www.sofia.usra.edu/
Yeah, good idea. An airplane. In the atmosphere. With an Infra-red thingamagigee. Sure, okay, fine.
Although it could provide immensely higher quality photos or video, let’s just crash Hubble through the atmosphere. That’s smart.
Sounded Ok on the face of it, but then I got to thinking. They probably said similarly positive things and the “Corona” project. Which, as we know (you should), was just a spy satellite project in disguise. Now, what’s to keep this from also being a high flying spy plane? If it can see distant stars thru the atmosphere looking up, it can just as easily be made to look down thru the atmosphere at distant ground targets. And probably be retasked a lot easier and faster than a spy satellite. Don’t be fooled again by rosey scientific propaganda, that could be covering up its true military function. Sorry John. I quess I just sicked Echelon on your blog. But hey, they’ve probably been checking it out for a while now.
#6 Glenn E, very true. Only thing, IR gets absorbed by clouds and such. But that doesn’t mean this technology won’t be used to spy on Americans by other means or other optical spectrum’s.
#7, noname, “But that doesn’t mean this technology won’t be used to spy on Americans by other means or other optical spectrum’s. [sic]”
Not unless they can fly that four-seven inverted! That would be something to see!! Art Scholl (rest his soul) was a great instructor, so I’ll give it a shot, let me at that baby.
http://www.icasfoundation.org/hall_fame/1996/hf_scholl.htm