SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy)

URI: https://gptkb.org/entity/SOFIA_(Stratospheric_Observatory_for_Infrared_Astronomy)
GPTKB entity
Statements (45)
Predicate Object
gptkbp:instanceOf gptkb:aircraft
gptkbp:abilities studying exoplanets
studying galaxies
studying star formation
studying planetary atmospheres
studying interstellar medium
studying black holes
studying comets
studying cosmic magnetic fields
studying molecular clouds
gptkbp:aircraftType gptkb:Boeing_747SP
gptkbp:baseOfOperations gptkb:Palmdale,_California
gptkbp:elevation 45,000 feet
gptkbp:firstFlight 2007
gptkbp:fullOperationsBegan 2014
gptkbp:fundedBy gptkb:DLR
gptkb:NASA
https://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#label SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy)
gptkbp:instrument 2.5-meter reflecting telescope
gptkbp:lastFlight September 2022
gptkbp:locatedOn gptkb:Boeing_747SP_aircraft
gptkbp:namedAfter Sofia Kovalevskaya (by acronym, not direct dedication)
gptkbp:notableFinds complex organic molecules in space
magnetic fields in galactic center
water on sunlit surface of the Moon
gptkbp:observationAltitudeRange 38,000 to 45,000 feet
gptkbp:observationDurationPerFlight up to 10 hours
gptkbp:observationWindow infrared wavelengths blocked by Earth's atmosphere
gptkbp:operatedBy gptkb:NASA
gptkb:Deutsches_SOFIA_Institut_(DSI)
gptkb:Universities_Space_Research_Association_(USRA)
gptkb:German_Aerospace_Center_(DLR)
gptkbp:purpose infrared astronomy
gptkbp:retired 2022
gptkbp:status retired
gptkbp:successor gptkb:Kuiper_Airborne_Observatory
gptkbp:telescopeDiameter 2.5 meters
gptkbp:telescopeType gptkb:Cassegrain_reflector
gptkbp:troopContributingCountries gptkb:Germany
gptkb:United_States
gptkbp:vehicleRegistrationCode gptkb:N747NA
gptkbp:wavelengthRange infrared
gptkbp:website https://www.sofia.usra.edu/
gptkbp:bfsParent gptkb:NASA_Ames_Research_Center
gptkbp:bfsLayer 5