Technicians check out the mounting structure of the infrared telescope installed in NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)

Technicians check out the mounting structure of the 20-metric-ton infrared telescope installed in NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA).

Technicians check out the mounting structure of the 20-metric-ton infrared telescope installed in NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA).

Photographer NASA/Tony Landis
Location AFRC
SOFIAfirst flightStratospheric Observatory for Infrared AstronomyGerman-built 100-inch 2 5 meter diameter infrared telescope20 tonshighly-modified Boeing 747SP aircraftDLR Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt German AerospaceL-3 Communications Integrated SystemsUniversities Space Research AssociationUSRADeutsches SOFIA InstitutDSI