| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | N747NA |
| Aircraft Original Type: | Boeing 747 |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | Boeing 747SP |
| Aircraft Version: | Boeing 747SP-21/SOFIA |
| C/n (msn): | 21441 / 306 |
| Operator Titles: | NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration / DLR - Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt |
| Aircraft Name: | Clipper Lindbergh |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| City / Airport: | Cologne / BonnMap |
| Country: | Germany |
| Airport Codes: | ICAO: EDDK IATA: CGN Local: - Other: - |
| Photo Date: | 24 February 2021 |
| Photo by: | Erik Sleutelberg |
| Photo ID: | 340296 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
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Putting it very much simplified, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, SOFIA, consists of a German telescope in a NASA aircraft. The 747SP as a platform allows for 10 hour missions typically at 41,000ft or more, above almost all water vapour that would block parts of infrared light. SOFIA was decommissioned the following year, flying its last mission out of Palmdale, CA in the night of 27 and 28 September 2022. This photo is copyright © Erik Sleutelberg, and may not be used or published in any way without permission. It was added on 28 February 2021, and has since been viewed 936 times. |