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May 10, 2007
NASA's Boeing 747SP SOFIA airborne observatory soars over a bed of puffy clouds during its second checkout flight over the Texas countryside on May 10, 2007
NASA's Boeing 747SP SOFIA airborne observatory soars over a bed of puffy clouds during its second checkout flight...
AFRC
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Jun 27, 2007
More than 250 VIPs, news media and guests joined NASA, DLR, USRA and other SOFIA staff for the debut of the airborne observatory at NASA DFRC on June 27, 2007
More than 250 VIPs, news media and guests joined NASA, DLR, USRA and other SOFIA staff for the debut of the airborne...
AFRC
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May 21, 2007
Erik Lindbergh unveils a plaque commemorating his grandfather to dedicate the 747 Clipper Lindbergh, a NASA airborne infrared observatory known as SOFIA
Erik Lindbergh, grandson of aviator Charles Lindbergh, unveiled a plaque commemorating his grandfather on the 80th...
AFRC
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May 10, 2007
NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy is silhouetted against the sky as it soars on its second check flight near Waco, Texas on May 10, 2007
NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy is silhouetted against the sky as it soars on its second...
AFRC
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May 21, 2007
Erik Lindbergh christens NASA's 747 Clipper Lindbergh with a special commemorative concoction representing local, NASA, and industry partners
Erik Lindbergh christens NASA's 747 Clipper Lindbergh, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, with a...
AFRC
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Jan 15, 2008
NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory touches down at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, CA, as it arrives at its new home, the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility
NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory touches down at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif., as it arrives at its new...
AFRC
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Jan 14, 2008
NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory taxis past Hangar 1, the 1930s-era dirigible hangar at Moffett Field, during its first visit to NASA Ames Research Center
NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory taxis past Hangar 1, the 1930s-era dirigible hangar at Moffett Field, during its...
AFRC
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Jan 14, 2008
NASA's now-retired Kuiper Airborne Observatory shared the limelight with its successor, the SOFIA observatory, during an open house at Ames Research Center
NASA's now-retired Kuiper Airborne Observatory shared the limelight with its successor, the SOFIA observatory,...
AFRC
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Jan 17, 2008
The cavernous expanse of the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., now houses NASA's DC-8 science laboratory and SOFIA infrared observatory
The cavernous expanse of the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., now houses NASA's DC-8 science...
AFRC
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Jan 14, 2008
Thousands of NASA Ames employees and their families toured NASA's SOFIA flying observatory during its first visit to NASA Ames Research Center, Jan. 14, 2008
Thousands of NASA Ames employees and their families toured NASA's SOFIA flying observatory during its first visit to...
AFRC
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Apr 26, 2007
The NASA and German Aerospace Center SOFIA airborne infrared observatory took flight for the first time April 26, 2007, from its modification center in Waco, TX
The NASA and German Aerospace Center SOFIA airborne infrared observatory took flight for the first time April 26,...
AFRC
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Jan 17, 2008
The Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., is now home to two large science aircraft, NASA's SOFIA observatory and a DC-8 science laboratory
The Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., is now home to two large science aircraft, NASA's SOFIA...
AFRC
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Apr 26, 2007
Logos of NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) are displayed prominently on the tail of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) 747SP
Logos of NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) are displayed prominently on the tail of the Stratospheric...
AFRC
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Apr 26, 2007
NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) was airborne for almost two hours during its first check flight at Waco, Texas on April 26, 2007
NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) was airborne for almost two hours during its first...
AFRC
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Apr 26, 2007
NASA's modified Boeing 747SP SOFIA airborne observatory taxis along the runway at Waco, Texas after completing its first checkout flight on April 26, 2007
NASA's modified Boeing 747SP SOFIA airborne observatory taxis along the runway at Waco, Texas after completing its...
AFRC
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Jan 17, 2008
NASA'S SOFIA infrared observatory 747SP (front) and DC-8 flying laboratory (rear) are now housed at the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif.
NASA'S SOFIA infrared observatory 747SP (front) and DC-8 flying laboratory (rear) are now housed at the Dryden...
AFRC
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May 1, 2008
Ground crewmen shove the more than two-ton SOFIA primary mirror assembly in its transport crate into a C-17's cavernous cargo bay for shipment to NASA Ames
Technicians at NASA's Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., loaded the German-built primary...
AFRC
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Nov 12, 2008
The Lowell Observatory's High-speed Imaging Photometer for Occultation rests on its dolly in the lab prior to installation on the SOFIA airborne observatory
The Lowell Observatory's High-speed Imaging Photometer for Occultation rests on its dolly in the lab prior to...
AFRC
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Apr 18, 2008
Technicians position the transport cradle as a crane lowers SOFIA's primary mirror assembly into place prior to finish coating of the mirror at NASA Ames
Technicians at the NASA Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., removed the German-built primary...
AFRC
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Apr 18, 2008
SOFIA's primary mirror assembly is cradled on its dolly as technicians prepare to move it into a "clean room" at NASA Dryden's Aircraft Operations Facility
Technicians at the NASA Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., removed the German-built primary...
AFRC
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Apr 18, 2008
Technicians with ropes carefully guide the primary mirror assembly as a crane slowly moves it toward its transport cradle after removal from the SOFIA aircraft
Technicians at the NASA Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., removed the German-built primary...
AFRC
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May 1, 2008
A NASA Technician directs loading of the crated SOFIA primary mirror assembly into a C-17 for shipment to NASA Ames Research Center for finish coating
Technicians at NASA's Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., loaded the German-built primary...
AFRC
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May 1, 2008
Ground crewmen prepare to load the crated SOFIA primary mirror assembly into an Air Force C-17 for shipment to NASA Ames Research Center for finish coating
Technicians at NASA's Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., loaded the German-built primary...
AFRC
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Apr 18, 2008
Technicians carefully guide SOFIA's primary mirror assembly on its transport cradle into a clean room where it is being prepared for shipment to NASA Ames
Technicians at the NASA Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., removed the German-built primary...
AFRC