SOFIA airborne observatory declared operational by NASA
SOFIA has been declared operational by NASA on 2nd July 2014. To achieve operational status, SOFIA demonstrated science operations in April and May by flying 14 flights, encompassing more than 100 successful science mission hours, in 30 days.
 |
| The door to the SOFIA observatory's 2.5-meter telescope is wide open during a developmental test flight in 2010. (Credits NASA) |