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What is something NASA just found from SOFIA?
NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has confirmed, for the first time, water on the sunlit surface of the Moon. This discovery indicates that water may be distributed across the lunar surface, and not limited to cold, shadowed places.
What does the SOFIA Telescope detect?
SOFIA and the Infrared Universe SOFIA is designed to observe the infrared universe. Many objects in space emit almost all their energy at infrared wavelengths and are often invisible when observed with visible light.
What does SOFIA mean NASA?
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy
The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is an 80/20 joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to construct and maintain an airborne observatory.
Where is NASA SOFIA?
The SOFIA Program Office is at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., which manages SOFIA’s science and mission operations in cooperation with the Universities Space Research Association (USRA; Columbia, Md.)
When was SOFIA built?
The SOFIA aircraft is a Boeing 747SP with a distinguished history. It was originally acquired by Pan American World Airways and was delivered in May 1977.
Where is NASA SOFIA located?
Who built the SOFIA telescope?
NASA
NASA, Universities Space Research Association (USRA) and the German Aerospace Center, DLR, are working together to develop SOFIA, a 2.5-meter infrared telescope mounted in a modified Boeing 747SP aircraft.
What is the SOFIA infrared telescope?
Taking over from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory, NASA’s previous high-flying infrared eye, SOFIA has been watching the skies since 2010 and is scheduled to operate until the early 2030s. The observatory takes the form of a compact Boeing 747, retrofitted specifically for this purpose.
What does NASA use Sofia for?
SOFIA’s first-generation cameras and spectrographs enable NASA to use it for a wide variety of missions. Sofia’s 2.5-meter diameter telescope allows astronomers to access the visible, infrared and sub-millimeter spectrum.
What is the SOFIA observatory?
The observatory will be heading into its fourth year of operations this year. What is SOFIA? Considered to be one of the premier space science programs of NASA, SOFIA is a joint project between NASA and the German Aerospace Centre, DLR.
What does Sofia fly?
SOFIA soars over the snow-covered Sierra Nevada mountains with its telescope door open during a test flight. SOFIA is a modified Boeing 747SP aircraft.