
Celebrating more than 40 years of airborne astronomy
SOFIA's predecessor, the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO), was dedicated on May 21, 1975. Carrying a 36 inch telecope, the KAO conducted airborne astronomy until 1995. The KAO succeeded NASA's Lear Jet observatory, which began flying in 1968 with a 12 inch telescope.
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https://www.nasa.gov/image-detail/celebrating-more-than-40-years-of-airborne-astronomy/
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