SOFIA First Light Mission. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED10-0080-03 With the sliding door over its 17-ton infrared telescope wide open, NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy -- or SOFIA -- soars over California's snow-covered Southern Sierras on a... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED09-0279-27 The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy science team completed checkout of optical star tracking camera systems and conducted telescope assembly preparation exercises during nighttime ... More
NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy ED10-0213-04 The high-tech German-built infrared telescope and its associated lower flexible telescope cavity door are rotated upward to their maximum 58-degree ... More
A Crane Lifts SOFIA's Newly Coated Primary Mirror Assembly.
A crane is used to lift SOFIA's newly coated primary mirror assembly from the floor of NASA's Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility, Palmdale, Calif. October 8, 2008 NASA Photo / Carla Thomas ED08-0262-35 › Read ... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED10-0115-21 A sharp eye can pick out faint specks of stars reflected by the 100-inch (2.5 meter) primary mirror on NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) during ground testing of the F... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED10-0115-21 A sharp eye can pick out faint specks of stars reflected by the 100-inch 2.5 meter primary mirror on NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy SOFIA during ground testing of the Faint... More
SOFIA 747SP. NASA public domain image colelction.
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy ED10-0182-02 In stark contrast with the deep blue sky at high altitude, NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy 747SP checks out operation of its... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED10-0083-36 With a protective cover over its primary mirror, the high-tech German-built infrared telescope is nested in its framework inside the 19-foot-deep, 12-foot-wide telescope cavity in the rear fuselage... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED09-0348-01 A NASA F/A-18 trails NASA's SOFIA 747SP during a test of the flying observatory's telescope cavity door opening mechanism. Test engineers opened the telescope cavity door to 10 percent of its maxim... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED10-0174-2 The lower flexible door (white) over the telescope cavity in the rear fuselage of NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy is visible while the upper rigid door (with blue stripe) is ... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
JupiterComposite_unlabeled Composite infrared image of Jupiter from SOFIA's first light flight at wavelengths of 5.4 (blue), 24 (green) and 37 microns (red), made by Cornell University's FORCAST camera during t... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED09-0089-86 Several NASA science aircraft, including (from bottom) the SOFIA observatory, the DC-8 airborne laboratory and an ER-2 high-altitude aircraft, along with one of NASA's modified 747 Shuttle Carrier ... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED09-0352-01 NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy 747SP reached a milestone Dec. 18, 2009, when the doors covering the aircraft's German-built infrared astronomy telescope were fully opened d... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
JupiterComposite_labeled Composite infrared image of Jupiter from SOFIA's first light flight at wavelengths of 5.4 blue, 24 green and 37 microns red, made by Cornell University's FORCAST camera during the SOFIA... More
HIPO Photometer Installed on SOFIA Telescope
The High-speed Imaging Photometer for Occultation, or HIPO, instrument was installed on the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy telescope Nov. 17 to support a study of the telescope's optical perfo... More
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy ED10-0211-02 With the doors to the high-tech telescope nestled in its rear fuselage open, NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, soar... More
HIPO Photometer Installed on SOFIA Telescope
Read SOFIA Mission Update 11-17-08 The SOFIA airborne observatory's 2.5-meter infrared telescope peers out from its cavity in the SOFIA rear fuselage during nighttime line operations testing. November 12, 2008 ... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
M82_labeledHR Composite infrared image of the central portion of galaxy M82, from SOFIA's First Light flight, at wavelengths of 20 blue, 32 green and 37 microns red. The middle inset image shows the same portio... More
NASA Reinstalls Main Mirror in SOFIA Airborne Observatory
Engineers and technicians from NASA, the German Space Agency and the Deutsches SOFIA Institut recently reinstalled the German-built primary mirror assembly into NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Ast... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
JupiterComposite_unlabeled Composite infrared image of Jupiter from SOFIA's first light flight at wavelengths of 5.4 blue, 24 green and 37 microns red, made by Cornell University's FORCAST camera during the SOF... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
M82_labeledHR Composite infrared image of the central portion of galaxy M82, from SOFIA's First Light flight, at wavelengths of 20 (blue), 32 (green) and 37 microns (red). The middle inset image shows the same ... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED10-0104-097 Technicians George Gull and Charlie Kaminski of USRA wheel the FORCAST infrared camera and its associated electronics into place in preparation for its installation on the SOFIA telescope. May 7, ... More
HIPO Photometer Installed on SOFIA Telescope
Read SOFIA Mission Update 11-17-08 Scientists carefully examine data being received during nighttime line operations testing of the SOFIA airborne observatory's 2.5-meter infrared telescope.. November 12, 2008 ... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory 747SP overflies its home, the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif. January 15, 2008 NASA Photo / Jim Ross ED08-0015-28 NASA Identifier: 254640main_ED08-0015-28_full
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED09-0279-35 The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy's 747SP sits on an aircraft ramp during nighttime testing and operation of the SOFIA's German-built telescope assembly. The aircraft is based at... More
SOFIA First Light Mission. Public domain image of NASA aircraft.
ED10-0080-08 With a NASA F/A-18 flying safety chase nearby, NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy -- or SOFIA -- flies a test mission over the Mojave Desert with the sliding door over its 17-t... More
HIPO Photometer Installed on SOFIA Telescope
Read SOFIA Mission Update 11-17-08 The SOFIA airborne observatory's 2.5-meter infrared telescope peers out from its cavity in the SOFIA rear fuselage during nighttime line operations testing. November 12, 2008 ... More
HIPO Photometer Installed on SOFIA Telescope
Read SOFIA Mission Update 11-17-08 The 2.5-meter infrared telescope peers out from its cavity in the SOFIA airborne observatory during nighttime line operations testing at Palmdale, Calif. November 12, 2008 NAS... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED10-0115-18 In this long-exposure image, the 2.5-meter infrared telescope peers out at a starry sky from its cavity in the rear fuselage of NASA's highly modified Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astrono... More
SOFIA's Mirror Assembly is Lifted Prior to its Reinstallation in NASA'...
SOFIA's primary mirror assembly is lifted above wing level prior to its reinstallation in the telescope cavity of NASA's 747 airborne observatory October 8, 2008 NASA Photo / Carla Thomas ED08-0262-42 › Read Ne... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED09-0279-38 The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy's 747SP is illuminated prior to nighttime testing and operation of the German-built telescope assembly. The aircraft is based at NASA's Dryden O... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED09-0279-14 This close-up of the German-built telescope assembly seen through the open telescope cavity door in the side of NASA's SOFIA 747SP offers a view of both the primary and secondary mirrors, the latte... More
NASA Reinstalls Main Mirror in SOFIA Airborne Observatory
SOFIA's primary mirror is placed in the telescope cavity for reinstallation prior to telescope adjustments preparing SOFIA for first science. October 8, 2008 NASA Photo / Carla Thomas ED08-0262-53 › Read News R... More
SOFIA. Public domain image of NASA aircraft.
ED10-0064-01 On a hazy day over Edwards Air Force Base flight test range, A NASA F/A-18 mission support aircraft maintains tight formation with NASA's SOFIA flying observatory during a test mission. March 24, 2... More
SOFIA. Public domain image of NASA aircraft.
ED10-0115-23 Faint specks of starlight are reflected by the 100-inch 2.5 meter primary mirror on NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy SOFIA during ground testing of the Faint Object Infrared ... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED10-0115-18 In this long-exposure image, the 2.5-meter infrared telescope peers out at a starry sky from its cavity in the rear fuselage of NASA's highly modified Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astrono... More
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy 747SP
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy ED10-0182-03 A NASA F/A-18 mission support aircraft flies close beside NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy 747SP during a high-altitude test ... More
SOFIA Observatory Door. NASA public domain image colelction.
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy ED10-0182-01 With the large door over its 2.5-meter German-built telescope wide open, NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy 747SP aircraft soar... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED09-0279-07 The rear fuselage of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy's 747SP is illuminated during telescope testing operations in preparation for aircraft and science checkout flights. The te... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED09-0279-15 This close up of SOFIA's German-built telescope assembly offers a view of both the primary and secondary mirrors, the latter a small black circle in the center supported by three braces. The white ... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED09-0352-03 A German-built telescope is exposed during a flight of NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy 747SP on Dec. 18, 2009. The telescope doors were fully opened, allowing engineers to u... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED10-0115-12 Cornell University mechanical engineer Chuck Henderson makes adjustments on the Faint Object Infrared Camera for the SOFIA Telescope FORCAST during line operations testing of the instrument May 20.... More
Cornell University's Faint Object Infrared Camera
ED10-0104-105 Cornell University's Faint Object Infrared Camera for the SOFIA Telescope, or FORCAST, is shown attached to the SOFIA telescope. May 7, 2010 NASA / Tony Landis NASA Identifier: nasa_453361main_ED10-0104-105
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED10-0115-12 Cornell University mechanical engineer Chuck Henderson makes adjustments on the Faint Object Infrared Camera for the SOFIA Telescope (FORCAST) during line operations testing of the instrument May 2... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy ED10-0211-01 With the doors to the high-tech telescope nestled in its rear fuselage open, NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, soar... More
SOFIA. Public domain image of NASA aircraft.
NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy ED10-0182-04 Sandwiched between the deep blue of the high-altitude sky and the Southern California mountains, NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrare... More
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy ED10-0213-02 The high-tech German-built infrared telescope and its associated lower flexible telescope cavity door are rotated upward to their maximum 58-degree ... More
NASA Reinstalls Main Mirror in SOFIA Airborne Observatory
Technicians lift SOFIA's primary mirror assembly above NASA's 747SP airborne astronomy aircraft just prior to installation in the telescope cavity. October 8, 2008 NASA Photo / Carla Thomas ED08-0262-47 › Read ... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED09-0089-90 Several NASA aircraft, including the SOFIA observatory in the foreground, the DC-8 airborne laboratory, an ER-2 high-altitude science aircraft and one of NASA's modified 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraf... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
ED10-0083-24 News media representatives are briefed on capabilities of the SOFIA's German-built infrared telescope embedded in the flying observatory's rear fuselage by USRA's chief SOFIA scientist Eric Becklin... More
SOFIA. Public domain image of NASA aircraft.
ED10-0115-23 Faint specks of starlight are reflected by the 100-inch (2.5 meter) primary mirror on NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) during ground testing of the Faint Object Infra... More
SOFIA. NASA public domain image colelction.
JupiterComposite_labeled Composite infrared image of Jupiter from SOFIA's first light flight at wavelengths of 5.4 (blue), 24 (green) and 37 microns (red), made by Cornell University's FORCAST camera during the... More
NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy ED10-0213-07 NASA's SOFIA observatory with a NASA F/A-18 trailing in chase soars over California City in the desert north of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on i... More