Ames Current Programs and Projects
![Airplane flying above cloud cover](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/sofiaoversierra.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1)
SOFIA
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), is a Boeing 747SP aircraft. Flying into the stratosphere at 38,000-45,000 feet puts SOFIA above 99 percent of Earth’s infrared-blocking atmosphere, allowing astronomers to study the solar system and beyond in ways that are not possible with ground-based telescopes.