Time-temperature Infrared Astronomical Observatory

Introduction

English full name

NASA's same temperature layer infrared astronomical observatory English name: Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, Sofia.

Brief introduction

N Sofia observation capabilities will be comparable to large-scale observations such as "Hubble" space telescope, can provide visible light, infrared and submill ( Sub-millimter) Observation within the spectrum range, in the range of medium infrared to submill, the best performance. SOFIA's flight height enables most of the other water vapor interference and other interference encountered during ground observation.

Related News

Project Finance Issues

[US Aerospace Daily "reported on July 14, 2006] July 12, NASA Michael Griffin, the head of the bureau, said that he will persuade the US Congress to continue to fund the "Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy" project. He said that he believes that the problem with the Sofia project is that people always don't know if it can be realized in technology, but he believes that it will be realized. In the 2007 fiscal application, NASA reduced its original $ 57.1 million in the project, because technical issues have led to the progress of the project, and the cost increases.

project composition

Sofia project intend to modify a Boeing 747 aircraft, making it a heavy metrics (22.68 tons), a diameter of 2.5 meters diameter infrared astronomical telescope, 45,000 feet (1,3716 meters) highly flying as an astronomical observatory. Among them, the infrared astronomical telescope will be provided by the German NAT ASA (DLR). The infrared image quality captured by the observatory is better than the largest ground infrared telescope.

Since NASA now refers to high priority, as well as its "James Weber Space Telescope" and "Hubble" space telescope repair task needs funding NASA will have to suspend the investment of Space Interferometer Mission (SIM).

Project test flight

NASA's Western Temperature Layer Infrared Astronomical Observatory (DRYDENFLIGHTRESEARCENTER) has arrived on May 31, 2007, Drydenflightresearch Center, Soon, a three-year multi-stage test flight will be started. Sofia is made by a Boeing 747SP aircraft, which has completed a 2.5-meter infrared astronomical telescope manufactured by the L-3 Communications Comprehensive Systems (L-3CommunicationsIthgrateedsystems) in the past few years. The installation and other major improvements, the current machine has been arrived at Denle, Waco, Texas. After the test flight schedule, Sofia is expected to officially undertake an astronomical observations before 2010. NASA claims that Sofia's observational capabilities will be comparable to large observations such as "Hubble" space telescope, and can provide visible light, infrared, and sub-millimeter spectroscopy. Observed, the best performance in the mid-infrared to submill range. SOFIA's flight height enables it to get rid of most of the water vapor interference and other interference encountered during ground observations.

British "Defense News" April 27, 2007 reported NASA's infrared astronomy with the temperature layer observatory (Sofia) ends a large number of aircraft modifications in Waco's L-3 integrated system in Texas. After the telescope was installed, the first test flight has been successfully completed.