SOFIA Observatory

[bdewoody]

I'm wondering why NASA feels this bird needs four years of testing before it can be used by researchers? After all it's based on a plane that has been flying for 30 years. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em><font size="2">Bob DeWoody</font></em> </div>

 

[gawin]

Its called job security. Why do a job in a year when you can in 3. This way we can keep 100’s of people on the payroll for 3 years instead of 1. Sounds simple but in the end it boils down to congressmen keeping the jobs for their states. <br /><br />Of course if it is being done in Florida then that explains why it will take 3 years instead of 1. The motto of Florida seems to be why do today what can be put off until tomorrow. 2 quick examples, 1 they are putting in new waterlines on a ¼ mile stretch of strait road behind my house normally this would take about a month or less to do. They have been working on it since the end of June!! 2. A contactor is building 3 small townhouses a couple blocks over, they have had workers their every weekday for 6 months and they still are not close to being finished.

 

[alokmohan]

What is Sophia observatory?

 

[alokmohan]

Humorous post.Certainly I will get some Sophia or sofia.Flying infrared telescope as I get now.Where is it situated,will you tell me?

 

[jschaef5]

SOFIA is to be transfered over to Dryden in the early months next year i believe which it will start to undergo flight testing later on. The reasons it will take so long is that they are adding a massive moment to the back of the plane . And SOFIA flys at such a high altitude, to get up to that height you need to make sure it can fly stable at all the points leading up to it. I am sure budget also has an impact on it... I am not sure wether it will stay at EAFB after testing or not since Ames is running the scientific side of it but I am willing to bet dryden will comtinue with the flight operations. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[holmec]

>You obviously have never been involved in a low budget under manned program that involves major modifications to an operational aircraft.<<br /><br />Not to mention hull configuration change inflight. The side opens up to the atmosphere so the telescope can get a clean look. I can only imagine what flight safety issues are involved with having part of your fuselage open to...what 40,000 ft or 50,000 ft? Guess they have to make sure the area where the telescope is is fully decompressed before opening it, lest they have an 'explosive' decompression and ruin the telescope and maybe harm the crew and the plane. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[alokmohan]

Another jewel of Ames centre.Awaiting to see it.