NASA Completes First Checkout Flight of Airborne Observatory
WACO, Texas – NASA today successfully completed the first of several planned checkout test flights of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) aircraft.
The flight took place in Waco, Texas, to observe the low-speed and low-altitude handling performance of the aircraft. NASA research pilot and astronaut Gordon Fullerton led the crew making the historic first flight.
“Today’s first flight of SOFIA is a major milestone for the program and I want to thank the entire SOFIA team for all of its hard work over the years in making this first flight a success,” said Jon Morse, director of the Astrophysics Division, NASA Headquarters, Washington…Read morePhoto Description
This inflight photo was taken during the first flight of the NASA and German Aerospace Center SOFIA airborne infrared observatory 747SP on April 26, 2007.April 26, 2007
NASA Photo / Carla Thomas
ED07-0079-03