Get the latest updates on NASA missions, watch NASA TV live, and learn about our quest to reveal the unknown and benefit all humankind. Unlike satellites, a plane "can fly to any longitude or latitude on the planet to observe a special event.". Inside that door the telescope sits in an unpressurized part of the plane that has an effective diameter of 2.5 meters (about 8 feet). Built in Neo-Byzantine style, it serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria and it is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, as well as one of Sofia's symbols and primary tourist attractions. A recap of all things electric vehicles, ride-hailing, airlines, and more. The crew puts on their sweaters and jackets. Now it's used to carry the world's only flying infrared astronomy laboratory and flying infrared telescope. But they are invisible in visible light. Data from NASA's flying observatory, nicknamed "SOFIA," was responsible for finding molecular water (H2O) on the moon. ; ESA Herschel/NASA JPL Caltech, NASA/DLR:USRA/DSI:R./Shuping & W. Vacca/FORCAST team, Antony Matheus Linsen/Fairfax Media/Getty, Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories, finding of frozen H20 on the moon with data acquired from NASA's flying observatory, airlines are finding they no longer have a purpose for the jet, NASA operates a fleet of Gulfstream private jets used to shuttle astronauts and conduct research missions – take a closer look, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Bombardier's new $9.9 million private jet that has its own private office and near-cross-country range just entered service – see inside the Learjet 75 Liberty, Singapore Airlines is launching the new world's longest flight that will see flyers spending almost 19 hours on a plane nonstop. Find flights to Sofia from $218. since, “No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention”. Grashuis directs the flight crew to remain on course and to be exactly on time for each of the observation points. NASA.gov brings you the latest images, videos and news from America's space agency. Pamela Marcum, NASA's SOFIA project scientist, said the goals of the overall mission include "studying objects spanning the full gamut of astronomical topics including planets, moons, asteroids and comets in our solar system; star and planet formation; extra-solar planets and the evolution of planetary systems; the interstellar medium and interstellar chemistry; the nucleus of the Milky Way galaxy, and nearby normal and active galaxies.". Account active Many objects in space emit almost all of their energy at infrared wavelengths. The light you see with your eyes reveals only part of the universe. To prove their point, at 9:02 p.m., when the door opens, no one tells us. Other instruments serve a more general role but are capable of acquiring data simultaneously with another more specialized instrument. This telescope is designed for infrared astronomy observations in the stratosphere at altitudes of about 12 kilometres (41,000 ft). I chase airliners. Previously untouched planets in the final frontier will soon be welcoming their first humans if the program is successful. Fly from Chicago from $218, from Boston from $224, from Newark from $241, from New York from $425 or from Los Angeles from $512. Sofia Vergara recently turned 45 on July 10th and she’s proudly flaunting her birthday suit. The closing sequence takes less than 1 minute and is imperceptible. We take our seats and, at 8:08 p.m. local time, the doors are closed. Fly from Sofia on Qatar Airways, Air France, KLM and more. Our open plane galley includes a microwave oven, refrigerator, and a table overflowing with high energy snacks, jerky, and an avalanche of junk food. Some are dedicated to studying specific astronomical science phenomena. Astronomers observe many other types of "light" to expand our views of the universe. NASA just discovered molecular water on the moon, and humans didn't even need to be there to find it. Search for Los Angeles flights on KAYAK now to find the best deal. SOFIA's signature visual cue is the bulge at the back of the fuselage. As we climb, scientists run multiple checklists and prepare for the scheduled 6 hours and 55 minutes of observation time. Sofía Margarita Vergara Vergara (Spanish: [soˈfi.a βeɾˈɣaɾa], born July 10, 1972) is a Colombian-American actress, television producer, comedian, presenter and model. Once the telescope door opens, the work can be intense. Dawn begins to subtly paint the horizon as the fuselage door closes, putting the telescope to bed. There's a reason why the telescope resides on the left side of the aircraft. It arrived with NASA in October 1997, … Out of more than 1,500 747s built, only 45 SPs rolled off the assembly line. The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA for short, can be found flying around in the darkest hours of the night with its telescope pointed to the stars. Co-pilot Ace Beall radios the tower: "NASA 747 heavy ready to taxi to runway 2-5.". Most telescopes as we know them observe light that's visible to the naked eye. Editor's Note — Chris Sloan is managing editor and senior partner of Airways Magazine and. Join us on a 12-month journey to see them all. One pilot dons his oxygen mask as it's mandatory to wear them above 41,000 feet and SOFIA will eventually reach an altitude of 43,000 feet. Sign up for Insider Transportation. SOFIA’s infrared camera called FORCAST, the Faint Object Infrared Camera for the SOFIA Telescope, can peer inside the obscuring clouds, revealing how these enormous stars are changing their surroundings. The 747SP that would become SOFIA first flew with Pan American World Airways on April 25, 1977 -- christened as Clipper Lindbergh on the 50th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh's historic first solo flight across the Atlantic. Then it was mothballed in the Nevada desert, where NASA found it. At observation altitude, the cabin is kept in the mid-60 degrees Fahrenheit. I spotted no one playing Minecraft or surfing the web. Now this is where things get a bit more scientifically wonky. Sofia is vibrant city, full of art and history, delectable food to sample, and yet you will not find the usual crowds of tourists even during high season.