The SOFIA Observatory is open to all US, German and International astronomers. US and International Astronomers should submit their proposals to the SOFIA Missions and Operations Center. Some funding will be provided to US Astronomers who are granted time.

The observatory has two classes of instruments: Facility Science Instruments (FSI) and Principal Investigator-class Science Instruments (PSI).

For the first observing cycle we will offer access to two Facility Science Instruments and two Principal Investigator-class Instruments. The observing time for the first year of operations is very limited (~100 hrs) and is offered on a shared risk basis. The decision of what instruments will be available will not be made until the final proposal call in January 2005. The next call for proposals will be issued in March 2006 for the October 2006 to October 2007 observing cycle.

Note: Observing time on Facility Science Instruments is open to any qualified astronomer. Those who get granted time will have to submit an observation plan using tools provided by the Missions and Operations Center.

Observing time on Principal Investigator-class Instruments require collaboration with the PSI team and should be technically approved by the PSI team before submission; support of the PSIs is handled by the PSI teams.
In both cases the proposals should be submitted to the SOFIA Missions and Operations Center by 90 days after the final call for proposals has been issued.