A large mobile crane and hi-lift are maneuvered into place for removal of the aperture assembly and cavity doors from NASA's SOFIA observatory aircraft

A large mobile crane and hi-lift are maneuvered into place for removal of the aperture assembly and cavity doors from NASA's SOFIA observatory aircraft.

A large mobile crane and hi-lift are maneuvered into place for removal of the aperture assembly and cavity doors from NASA's SOFIA observatory aircraft.

Photographer NASA/Tony Landis
Location AFRC
SOFIAStratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomyaperture mounting assemblyupper rigid door assemblycavity doorsremovalAmes Research CenterDryden Aircraft Operations FacilityPalmdaleSite 9Clipper LindberghGerman-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