SOFIA Telescope Arrives in Waco!

An important component of the SOFIA Observatory - the SOFIA telescope landed in Waco, Texas on September 4, 2002 after a 7,000 mile journey from Germany.

SOFIA is a joint American-German program. Germany is responsible for the design, construction, test and delivery of the telescope for integration into the aircraft by the US team. The United States is responsible for the design and modification (presently taking place in Waco) of the Boeing 747-SP aircraft.

“We’re very excited to be taking delivery of the world’s largest airborne telescope, provided by our German partners,” said NASA SOFIA project manager Chris Wiltsee of NASA Ames Research Center. “They’ve done a first-rate job in its development and should be very proud of their accomplishment.  We’re looking forward to working closely with them to complete this magnificent observatory,” added Wiltsee.

“This event is a key step on the way to completing a unique and very versatile astronomy facility, which will reveal hidden regions of space and open the door to new vistas of discovery,” said SOFIA program manager Cliff Imprescia of NASA Ames.

The shipment of the telescope to Waco was not a simple Fed Ex delivery. Due to its enormous size and weight, the telescope had to be disassembled to three components and shipped on a special aircraft designed to handle oversize loads- the aptly named Beluga (see images below). The three components shipped are: the suspension assembly which supports the telescope and science instruments weighs approximately 25,000 pounds, the primary mirror assembly weighs about 4,500 and the metering structure which holds the secondary mirror assembly weighs approximately 2,000 pounds. The Beluga first landed in Buffalo, New York for refueling before arriving at Waco.

The delivery of the telescope is no doubt a major milestone but there is still much to be done. The next step is the telescope integration into the Boeing 747 SP aircraft which will take place over the next nine months by engineers and technicians of L3 Communications Integration Systems, a USRA subcontractor, with assistance from the German contractors. Once integration is completed, the entire aircraft and telescope system will then undergo ground tests in Waco- scheduled for spring 2003. Flight tests are scheduled for fall of 2003 through spring 2004 with SOFIA expected to arrive at NASA Ames in May or June of 2004 for final flight tests. Full-scale astronomical observations are expected to begin in the fall of 2004. Stay tuned...

		All images courtesy of USRA

09 Sept 2002

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