Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 65

NASA / CARLA THOMAS

The 747's cockpit, updated from the 1978 original, is an orderly
array of gauges and controls for the plane's operation.

Senior editor Kelly Beatty made his ﬁrst ﬂight on SOFIA's
predecessor, NASA's Kuiper Airborne Observatory, in 1988.

S&T: J. KELLY BEATTY (2)

last year the Obama administration proposed mothballing
the plane for an undeﬁned period beginning in ﬁscal
2015 as a part of overall budget-tightening at NASA. The
space agency even started looking for other agencies to
take over SOFIA's operation. But supporters in both the
House and Senate countered with $70 million in extra
funding to ensure that NASA keeps the ﬂights coming for

another year. DLR oﬃcials were understandably relieved.
However, the scrutiny continues. In July 2014, NASA's
Oﬃce of Inspector General investigated the program's
operational challenges and recommended 10 changes.
For example, the OIG found there's not enough planning
for future technological upgrades, no mechanism for
rescheduling missed opportunities (such as the U Mon
and NGC 3501 targets on my ﬂight), and a backlog of
undelivered observations after ﬂights are over (example:
Marchis is still waiting for his Pallas data).
Meanwhile, Hertz plans to launch a "senior review" of
the SOFIA program this year. Outside experts will look at
ways to maximize the science return. "Hours cost money,"
Hertz explains, "and the right choice might be to ﬂy fewer
hours." They'll also explore ways to restructure AURA's
operations contract, which expires next year. Most critically,
they'll assess SOFIA's scientiﬁc relevance when judged
against other agency programs and funding needs.
But Hertz also emphasizes that SOFIA gives astronomers regular access to a little-explored slice of the
electromagnetic spectrum. Seven instruments are in the
observational rotation now, and two more (one German,
one American) will be in the mix by the end of next year.
"We have not stopped moving forward," he insists. With
luck - and steady funding - this one-of-a-kind ﬂying
observatory will still be soaring into the stratosphere 20
years from now. ✦

The aircraft's roomy but cold and noisy cabin has workstations for four speciﬁc tasks: the ﬂight manager and science planner (seated at lower right);
astronomers (far left); telescope operators (just left of center); and instrument control (right of center). Everyone faces aft toward the pressure bulkhead
and telescope compartment (upper right). Some astronomers choose to come aboard to oversee their observations. The lucky ones get to take their data
early and then catch up on sleep after SOFIA turns to view other targets.

Sk yandTelescope.com April 2015

65

http://www.SkyandTelescope.com

Sky and Telescope - April 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sky and Telescope - April 2015

Contents
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - Cover1
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - Cover2
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 3
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - Contents
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 5
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - A
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - B
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 6
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 7
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 8
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 9
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 10
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 11
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 12
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 13
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 14
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 15
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Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 17
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 18
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 19
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 20
Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 21
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Sky and Telescope - April 2015 - 26
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