NASA's SOFIA observatory with a NASA F/A-18 trailing in chase soars over California City in the desert north of Edwards Air Force Base, California.
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy
ED10-0213-09
NASA’s SOFIA observatory with a NASA F/A-18 trailing in chase soars over California City in the desert north of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on its last envelope-expansion test flight Aug. 4, 2010. The SOFIA’s 2.5-meter infrared telescope and its associated telescope cavity doors are rotated open to their maximum 58-degree position in this view.August 4, 2010
(NASA photo / Carla Thomas)