National Aeronautics and Space Administration Volume 49 Issue 1 Dryden Flight Research Center October 2007 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Sensational SOFIA News October 2007 The KeySOFIA events may lead to first science data in about 2 years By Jay Levine reduces the effects of the aircraft’s move- X-Press Editor ments during flight on the telescope as he Stratospheric Observatory well as reducing light reflection that could for Infrared Astronomy, or also impact it, he added. SOFIA made its debut at Some of the most extensive modifi- Dryden June 27 following cations include a 16-foot hole for the Tthree successful checkout flights in Waco, telescope door – the largest opening ever Texas, where major modifications had made on a 747 –and the re-routing of the been completed by L-3 Communications aircraft’s flight control cables to accom- Integrated Systems. modate the door. Those cables extend The arrival at Dryden marked a new to the vertical and horizontal control day in transitioning work with the aircraft surfaces. Flight control cables also will be from significant modification to the start instrumented to measure tension caused of flight tests, completion of subsystems by thermal expansion. Another key integration and, eventually, to the task of modification was addition of a bulkhead exploring the heavens. to reinforce the aircraft’s structure. The SOFIA still has a way to go before “It’s a tremendous accomplishment to routinely engaging in science flights. get the airplane here,” Carter said. “It’s Progress is measurable, however, and the result of some terrific collaboration flight tests that will validate the structural EC07 0105-31 NASA Photo by Tom Tschida among Ames, Dryden, the German modifications to the aircraft should begin Aerospace Center, L-3 Communications Above, members of the SOFIA program leadership include, from left, John Carter, Ed this fall, according to Bob Meyer, SOFIA Integrated Systems and the Universities Austin, Bob Meyer and Eric Becklin. Aircraft and science aspects of the program will program manager. Space Research Association,” an Ames The largest of the extensive modifica- be co-managed by NASA’s Dryden and Ames research centers, respectively. The SOFIA flies a second checkout flight from Waco, Texas, at top. (NASA photo ED07 100-03 contractor. tions involved cutting a sizeable hole in by Jim Ross) “We look forward to beginning a very the aft fuselage for installation of the exciting trip here, and the most difficult infrared telescope and a special door tests, when the critical door of the NASA of hardware and motors needed to open and flying tasks are yet to come.” that will protect it. The first phase of 747SP is ready to be opened in flight. Flight close the door that shields the telescope. Ed Austin, SOFIA science project flights will be made with the door to the tests are scheduled to take about a year, “We’ve gained a tremendous amount of manager at Ames Research Center, telescope closed. Later flights will include but installation and integration of aircraft confidence and understanding of the way Moffett Field, Calif., said that Ames has telescope door-open flights. subsystems may take two to three. First the airplane truly works and flies and it has primary responsibility for management The SOFIA project is a joint venture of observations made with the 45,000-pound increased our confidence for the next flight and oversight of the observatory’s science NASA and the German Aerospace Cen- telescope system during mission conditions phase, in which we’re going to expand to the program, including the missions to be ter, or DLR. NASA provided the Boeing are expected in 2009. entire SOFIA envelope,” Carter said. accomplished onboard and the operation 747SP specially modified aircraft and will “As soon as possible, we want a science Research flights with the telescope door of ground facilities. Ames’ responsibilities conduct flight and mission operations, instrument on the plane to get some science closed may begin as early as fall. After those also include the integrated telescope, while the Germans contributed the tele- data,” Meyer said. “Dryden is working dili- initial flights it will be about eight more science instruments and software, and scope, which has a primary mirror measur- gently to get the observatory flight-tested, to months before the aircraft is flown with the observatory functions. ing more than eight feet in diameter. get to the science as quickly as possible.” door open, and observatory work can then In addition, as part of Carter’s aircraft In addition to the most advanced With that goal in mind, shifts have been begin to ramp up. project, Ames personnel are assisting with telescope of its kind – one Meyer calls doubled in an effort to accelerate deferred “We have to have the cavity insulation the telescope cavity door design work, an engineering marvel – the Germans maintenance work and installation of key finished,” Carter said. “We have an air duct fabrication of its control system and also provided upgraded engines and subsystems and instrumentation, said John to an auxiliary power unit that needs to be installation and integration work. Key subsystems as well as a new coat of paint Carter, SOFIA aircraft project manager. installed. We’ll need to have an initial mis- tasks for the Germans will be telescope for the aircraft. With a series of checkout flights already sion control and communications system, checkout and test. Although it will be years before full- completed – including the flight to Dryden, and we’ll have to have the cavity door-drive The observatory aircraft will feature scale science operations begin, Meyer which did not exceed 20,000 feet in altitude system functioning.” several unique systems. said science flights have been scheduled – attention now turns to completing and inte- The cavity insulation shields the aircraft’s during the second of three phases of flight grating key subsystems, including installation interior against outside temperatures, and See SOFIA, page 16 2 NASA Dryden X-Press October 2007 News Lindbergh Legacy NASA 747SP honors aviator’s feat By Jay Levine was unveiled commemorating the 80th X-Press Editor anniversary of his grandfather’s historic xcitement is a cure for apathy transatlantic flight, and then again at the and that’s what Erik Lindbergh, June 27 Dryden event. Modifications made grandson of famed aviator Charles to the plane to ready it as a flying observa- Lindbergh, believes NASA’s new tory were made at the L-3 Waco facility Eairborne observatory will bring to the prior to its flight to Dryden. world. While at Dryden, the NASA 747SP will NASA’s new Stratospheric Observatory undergo continued flight and systems test- for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, is a ing for about two years while observatory highly modified 747 airliner that carries a systems hardware and software are inte- 17-metric-ton infrared telescope system. grated. Program officials expect to conduct The SOFIA holds great promise as a desper- the first science missions with the telescope ately needed path to awakening an apathetic as early as 2009. public and “lighting them up” with awe- Charles Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight inspiring science, Lindbergh said in remarks inspired people everywhere and helped at a recent ceremony held at Dryden Flight fuel a new perspective on aviation, his Research Center. grandson said in remarks at the June 27 Lindbergh handled the duties of rededi- event. Leaving behind a view of those who cating the Boeing 747SP SOFIA aircraft flew as daredevils and barnstormers, pilots as “Clipper Lindbergh,” first dedicated who would carry passengers came to be seen 30 years ago when it was a Pan American with awe and respect. Simultaneously, the airliner. Lindbergh’s grandmother – Anne possibilities commercial aviation held began Morrow Lindbergh, an accomplished avia- to emerge. ED07 0105-1 NASA Photo by Tom Tschida trix in her own right – presided over the “What’s outstanding about this aircraft, original dedication. Erik Lindbergh, grandson of Charles Lindbergh, unveils a plaque rededicating NASA’s SOFIA and that connection to the Pan Am naming Lindbergh rededicated the aircraft at L- aircraft as “Clipper Lindbergh.” The May 21 event, held in Waco, Texas, marked the 80th an- of Clipper Lindbergh and my grandmother 3 Communications Integrated Systems in niversary of his grandfather’s historic transatlantic flight. The SOFIA will be based at Dryden Waco, Texas, on May 21, when a plaque and will be used for groundbreaking astronomical research. See Lindbergh, page 14 By Jay Levine The answer would elude astronomers X-Press Editor awhile longer. While the mobile telescope ighteenth-century astronomer Sir on the CV-990 was adequate for making the William Herschel used a prism to determination that Venus’ clouds were very discover infrared radiation and dry, the aircraft, also known as the Galileo through that discovery deter- I, was constantly needed to support other Emined that the sun emitted infrared light. NASA programs. In addition, a windowless In his era, the day when future astronomers History or “open port” telescope, not available on would board an airborne observatory to the CV-990, would be required to unravel view the infrared universe was far in the astronomical mysteries that reveal their se- future. crets at longer, far-infrared wavelengths. But a scientist like Herschel, well aware Enter the Ames Learjet. of how dramatically a single discovery could alter people’s perceptions about the heavens, Lesson Learjet might easily have been able to imagine that Acquiring a dedicated airborne observa- day. In March 1781 his chance discovery Modern airborne astronomy began tory gave researchers more opportunities of a new planet, Uranus, proved our solar and options for studying the heavens. In the system was double the size astronomers at NASA’s Ames Research Center late 1960s Frank J.