A Mach 0.8, 40,000-ft Challenge

摘要

MPC Products, headquartered in Skokie, IL, is completing the final testing phase on a NASA project to develop an actuator control system that will mechanically operate a cavity door drive system (CDDS) for what is considered to be the largest telescope to ever to be placed in an aircraft. The reflecting telescope will allow scientists to study distant astronomical objects such as stars, comets, asteroids, forming solar systems, and black holes. It is being permanently installed inside of an airborne astronomical observatory-a modified Boeing 747SP referred to by NASA as SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy).