By Lois R. Rosson

NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) was an airborne observatory that operated from 2010 to 2022. Developed out of a former passenger aircraft, SOFIA flew a 2.7-meter infrared telescope above the bulk of the water vapor in Earth’s atmosphere, allowing scientists to observe infrared light difficult to see from the ground. Operated in partnership with the German Aerospace Center, SOFIA provided flexibility in targeting astronomical subjects and made significant contributions to the study of magnetic fields, star formation, and the chemistry of interstellar clouds. 

This report by historian Lois R. Rosson is the first retrospective look at SOFIA since the mission’s conclusion in 2022. It is compiled from archival records and oral histories with astronomers, project managers, flight crew, and international partners. It situates SOFIA in a broader history of airborne observation at NASA and narrates the observatory’s development, operations, and legacy. Though SOFIA was retired in 2022, it functioned as a bridge between ground- and space-based infrared astronomy, and its data sets continue to offer valuable insights into the shape and composition of our universe.

NASA SP-2025-4901