With landing gear extended, the NASA/DLR Stratospheric Observatory for Infared Astronomy (SOFIA) 747SP cruises over central Texas on its first checkout flight

With landing gear extended, the NASA/DLR Stratospheric Observatory for Infared Astronomy (SOFIA) 747SP cruises over central Texas on its first checkout flight.

With landing gear extended, the NASA/DLR Stratospheric Observatory for Infared Astronomy (SOFIA) 747SP cruises over central Texas on its first checkout flight.

Photographer NASA/Carla Thomas
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