SCIENCE MISSION OPERATIONS AND EARLY SCIENCE INTRUMENTS FOR SOFIA

摘要

SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, is a joint project between NASA and DLR to provide a 2.5-m telescope that flies at stratospheric altitudes. Access to large parts of the otherwise blocked infrared spectrum is enabled. SOFIA successfully conducted its first year of science observations in 2011. The instruments that were flown in-the demonstrating "Early Science" phase were the FORCAST mid-infrared camera, the GREAT heterodyne spectrometer, and.the HIPO photometer. The FLITECAM near- infrared imager was briefly flown married with HIPO. The remainder first generation Science Instruments to be flown is the HAWC far infrared bolometer camera, the FIFI-LS far infrared field imaging line spectrometer, and EXES, a high resolution echelon spectrometer. In this paper we present the basic characteristics of the airborne observatory and the management of the Science Mission Operations.