SOFIA
January 4, 2013
Air Force Plant 42 firemen create a small rainbow as they shower the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy 747SP during leak check test around the telescope cavity door in the aircraft’s rear fuselage outside the SOFIA’s Palmdale, Calif., hangar. The exercise was carried out because even small amounts of moisture would affect the optical performance of the telescope mirrors that are hidden beneath the door.
February 18, 2011
NASA Photo / Tom Tschida
Topics:
Technology Internet, Telescopes, Astronomical observatories, Astronomy, Infrared astronomy, Plant 42, Palmdale, California, Space, Boeing 747SP, Observational astronomy, Science, Infrared imaging, Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy
