Universities Space Research Association (USRA)

NASA awarded the prime contract for the SOFIA to Universities Space Research Association (USRA) in December 1996. USRA is developing and will conduct all operations and science for the airborne observatory.

USRA heads a team composed of L-3 Communications Integrated Systems Aircraft Integration Systems, University of California, the SETI Institute, and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. USRA has overseen all US components of the project, including the sweeping modifications to the 747SP SOFIA aircraft by L-3 Communications Integrated Systems. USRA also oversees the state-of-the-art far-infrared instrument development program funded by NASA grants for science instruments. During operations, USRA will manage allocation of SOFIA observing time. Data gleaned from SOFIA will go into an online archive administered by USRA, and remain available to the astronomical science community for follow-up research. The SETI Institute and Astronomical Society of the Pacific are developing and will conduct the education and public outreach program for USRA.

The Universities Space Research Association is a nonprofit corporation created under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences. It sponsors space research projects at six NASA Centers and 82 academic institutions nationally and internationally. Its astronomical research enterprises include gamma-ray, X-ray, solar, infrared and optical-interferometric astronomy research, and work at the National Lunar and Planetary Institute. USRA actively sponsors Life Science and Earth Science research. Education Outreach to US students is also one of its major priorities.

Contacts:

Project Office
NASA Ames Research Center
Mail Stop N211-3
Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
650-604-1254

Helen Hall
Program Director

Don Kniffen
Science Mission Operations Director

Eric Becklin
Chief Scientific Advisor

Sue Goodwin
Office Manager