The SOFIA flying observatory climbs out after takeoff from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.
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SOFIA, FORCAST Begin Basic Science Flight Series
The SOFIA flying observatory climbs out after takeoff from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif., at dusk May 5 on the first flight in the Basic Science series with Cornell University’s Faint Object InfraRed CAmera for the SOFIA Telescope (FORCAST). The Basic Science series of flights encompasses eight US science flights, one German science flight, and an added flight for observation of the galactic center, all with the FORCAST science instrument installed.May 2011
NASA / Carla Thomas