According to Edward Austin, Science and Mission Operation Project Manager for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), there are a lot of things that are obscured in the galaxy that we would want to see. We can use infrared technology, but a lot of the infrared spectrum is actually blocked by water vapor in the earth's atmosphere. One way to overcome this problem is to install a telescope in an aircraft capable of flying at 37,000 to 45,000 feet, placing it above roughly 99-percent of water vapor in the atmosphere.
SOFIA is a joint venture between NASA and the German space agency, DLR, that uses a specially modified Boeing 747SP aircraft as an airborne astronomical observatory. A large 16-foot hole has been cut in the aft fuselage and a special door that will open and close in flight has been installed to accommodate the use of a large, 2.7-meter-diameter telescope. When fully operational, SOFIA will give scientists and astronomers an opportunity to look at black holes and star forming regions in the center of the galaxy, as well as newly discovered planet-like objects in the outer solar system.
Read the "Who's Who at NASA" interview with Edward Austin on page 10 of the March issue of NASA Tech Briefs, or click here .
