This unaltered story was originally published by U.S. NASA Space Agency.
URL: https://www.nasa.gov
Content is in public domain.

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SOFIA takes off from Armstrong Flight Research Center – SOFIA: Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy

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Date: 2021-07-20 00:00:00

About SOFIA

SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, is a Boeing 747SP aircraft modified to carry a 2.7-meter (106-inch) reflecting telescope (with an effective diameter of 2.5 meters or 100 inches). Flying into the stratosphere at 38,000-45,000 feet puts SOFIA above 99 percent of Earth’s infrared-blocking atmosphere, allowing astronomers to study the solar system and beyond in ways that are not possible with ground-based telescopes. SOFIA is made possible through a partnership between NASA and the German Space Agency at DLR.

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[1] Url: https://blogs.nasa.gov/sofia/2021/07/20/a-new-springboard-to-the-southern-sky-sofia-deploys-to-french-polynesia/afrc2021-0096-02_small/

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