The flight crew of NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory includes (from left), flight engineer Marty Trout and pilots Bill Brockett and Frank Batteas.

The flight crew of NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory includes (from left), flight engineer Marty Trout and pilots Bill Brockett and Frank Batteas.

The flight crew of NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory includes (from left), flight engineer Marty Trout and pilots Bill Brockett and Frank Batteas.

Photographer NASA/Eric James
Location ARC
SOFIAStratospheric Observatory for Infrared AstronomyAmes Research Centerfirst visitDryden Aircraft Operations FacilityPalmdale