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SOFIA (for Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) is an aircraft-based infrared observatory that was operated by NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) from 2010 to 2022. The aircraft is a Boeing 747SP, which cruises at 41,000 feet (12500 meters), high enough that 85% of the full range of infrared is visible. The opening for the telescope, opened at altitude, has no glass. The telescope is 2.5 meters in diameter, is built to be very light and compact, using a very short focal length. SOFIA instruments:
Previously listed:
Proposed:
SOFIA's last day of operation was September 30, 2022. In theory, it could be revived, but there doesn't seem to be sufficient interest at the necessary levels. Through its life, there had been periodic proposals to terminate SOFIA operation given its high operating cost and the limited observation it carries out, which would free money for astrophysical missions judged more effective.
However SOFIA did offer spectral bands that are not covered by any other current telescope: much of the infrared spectrum is blocked from ground telescopes and not covered by current space telescopes, such as the James Webb Space Telescope. SOFIA also had the advantage of telescope and instrument maintenance and upgrades during its lifetime. SOFIA cost considerably less to develop and initiate than space telescopes, but had higher ongoing cost maintaining and operating the aircraft, and its observations were limited by the amount of time that it could be flown and by the weather.
An obvious notion is a future space telescope that would cover the bands that SOFIA covered. The impediment is presumably that its development would take considerable time and would require considerable resources, either displacing other astrophysical research efforts or requiring an enlarged budget for spaced-based astrophysics research. As technology continues to develop, such a project may become more feasible.
The SOFIA 747's call sign is NASA747 and tail number is N747NA.
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