Comments on: Fly By Night, SOFIA http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/04/13/fly-by-night-sofia/ Science, Environment, and Nature in the SF Bay Area Sun, 21 Mar 2010 10:24:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Randolf http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/04/13/fly-by-night-sofia/comment-page-1/#comment-1435 Randolf Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:03:22 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/04/13/fly-by-night-sofia/#comment-1435 Hi Ben, actually today SOFIA flew for the first time after the integration of the telescope. I would not call it scientific test flight, since no astronomical data was taken, but it is a major milestone in the project that SOFIA started its test flights. These test flights are required by FAA and NASA to ensure flight safety in the later science flights. By the way, the test flight was a full success, I heard. Randolf Hi Ben,

actually today SOFIA flew for the first time after the integration of the telescope. I would not call it scientific test flight, since no astronomical data was taken, but it is a major milestone in the project that SOFIA started its test flights. These test flights are required by FAA and NASA to ensure flight safety in the later science flights.
By the way, the test flight was a full success, I heard.

Randolf

]]> By: Ben Burress http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/04/13/fly-by-night-sofia/comment-page-1/#comment-1066 Ben Burress Sun, 15 Apr 2007 16:01:26 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/04/13/fly-by-night-sofia/#comment-1066 Just to add a note to my own blog, I've received some updated information about SOFIA. First, the good news is that SOFIA's first scientific test flight is expected to take place in the next few weeks! The updated news to my blog is that NASA has changed the location from which SOFIA will be based. While NASA/Ames Reserach Center in Mountain View will remain the center of science operations for SOFIA, the aircraft itself will now operate out of NASA/Dryden Flight Research Center in the Mojave Desert. Still, the nature of airborne infrared observatory flight paths will certainly carry SOFIA through our skies on occasion.... Just to add a note to my own blog, I've received some updated information about SOFIA. First, the good news is that SOFIA's first scientific test flight is expected to take place in the next few weeks! The updated news to my blog is that NASA has changed the location from which SOFIA will be based. While NASA/Ames Reserach Center in Mountain View will remain the center of science operations for SOFIA, the aircraft itself will now operate out of NASA/Dryden Flight Research Center in the Mojave Desert. Still, the nature of airborne infrared observatory flight paths will certainly carry SOFIA through our skies on occasion….

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