Germany Hasn't Given Up on Persuading NASA To Keep SOFIA Flying

摘要

Germany remains hopeful of persuading NASA to reverse a decision to retire the U.S.-German SOFIA airborne infrared telescope in September as a cost-saving measure even as the plane, after two decades of development, only now enters fully operational status, the head of the German Aerospace Center, DLR, said March 19. In an interview, Johann-Dietrich Woerner said negotiations with NASA over SOFIA'S future have taken on an additional urgency because the modified Boeing 747 aircraft will require a substantial maintenance check in June.