Nine instruments are currently being developed for SOFIA. These first-generation instruments include three Facility-class Science instruments (FSI), five Principal Investigator-class Science instruments (PSI) and one Special Purpose Principal Investigator-class Science instrument (SSI). The table below is a summary of the nine first-generation SOFIA instruments. Additional information can be found on the seperate web pages for each instrument.

The Three Classes of Science Instruments

A Facility-class Science Instrument (FSI) is a general purpose, reliable and robust instrument that provides state-of-the-art science performance at commissioning, through the use of modern, but mature technologies. It is expected that such an instrument will routinely be operated and maintained by a designated SSMOC FSI scientist in support of General Investigators (GI's) who will not be required to have extensive knowledge or experience in infrared instrumentation or observing techniques.

A Principal Investigator-class Science Instrument (PSI) is a general purpose instrument that is developed and maintained at the state-of-the-art throughout its useful operating life. Normally a PSI will reside at the Principal Investigator's (PI's) institution, where all maintenance and upgrades will be accomplished. It is expected that a PSI will be operated by the PI team members, both for their own research as well as for that of successful GI's.

GI's may propose observations with PSIs independently from the PI teams. The interaction of the PI and GI teams is to be determined after proposal selections by mutual consensus for each successful GI proposal. The process of data acquisition, reduction, and calibration should be straightforward and transparent to the GI, requiring only a minimal level of assistance from the PI team."

PSI's include instruments developed in the United States and in Germany.

A Special Purpose Instrument (SSI) is specifically designed for a particular observation or set of observations not possible or practical with FSI or PSI instruments. This instrument may incorporate technologies at the "edge-of-the-art" that would be too risky to include in a general-purpose instrument.

The Current Suite of SOFIA Science Instruments:

^*Not part of the USRA peer review process

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