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v12 June, 2005
Below is our twelfth SOFIA Electronic Newsletter to the astronomical
community describing further progress on the aircraft system and development of User Tools for astronomers.
Regards,
Ed Erickson
SOFIA Facility Scientist |
Dana Backman
SOFIA EPO Director |
Eric Becklin
SOFIA Chief Scientist |
SCIENCE REVIEW LAUDS SOFIA POTENTIAL
An Independent Science and Operations Review last November, chaired by Dr. Michael Werner (JPL), concluded that SOFIA will be capable of the broad, high impact, and long-term science typical of Great Observatories. Among other findings the committee's report emphasized the need for developing future science instrument capabilities. The SOFIA team is implementing the committee's recommendations.
OBSERVATORY PROGRESS TOWARD FIRST FLIGHT
Much progress has been made on the observatory since our January newsletter. For example, the three major telescope-cavity door elements and all flight control surfaces are installed on the plane, the landing gear have been tested, and the fuel tanks have been inspected and are being tested. Pictures are on the website given above. Members of the Deutsches SOFIA Institut in Stuttgart have recently been preparing the telescope system for first flights. These are to verify the observatory's airworthiness, and will occur with the cavity door closed. Current schedule estimates for aircraft work show first flight in FY06.
DEVELOPMENT OF USER TOOLS
Numerous activities preparing for the science program are under way. Here we highlight some of the user tools which are in advanced stages of development. Items labeled with * are already available on our website.
- Observatory Users' Manual
This general description of SOFIA covers its characteristics, operation, and guidelines for proposing and observing.
- Proposal tool
SPT (SOFIA Proposal Tool) is a downloadable Java application, a version of HST's APT modified for SOFIA.
- Science Instrument descriptions:
- *"Flyers" summarize each instrument and its intended science.
- *Performance Summaries give predicted sensitivity, and angular and spectral resolutions as a function of wavelength for each instrument.
Instrument Manuals will describe operation of each instrument, its data acquisition modes, and special features
- SITE (SOFIA Instrument Time Estimator) is a web-based Exposure Time Calculator for Facility Instruments: FLITECAM, FORCAST, and HAWC.
- Flight planning tools
- VT (Visibility Tool) calculates availability and aircraft headings for candidate sources in the elevation range of the telescope.
- MFP ("Manual" flight planner) allows an individual to calculate flightlegs and assemble a flight plan, given a prioritized object list with desired durations.
- AFP (Automated flight planner) assembles and partially optimizes a flight plan automatically, using the same inputs needed for the MFP.
SCIENCE PROGRAM INFORMATION
Please contact Dana Backman (dbackman@sofia.usra.edu) if your institution would like a science presentation - including information on SOFIA's capabilities and future observing opportunities - by a member of SOFIA's science staff. A recent 6-page program summary for astronomers is available here or may be obtained at the SOFIA exhibit at the Minneapolis AAS meeting.
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Page Last Updated:
June 1, 2005
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