Celebrating More than 40 Years of Airborne Astronomy
Date
SOFIA's predecessor, the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO), was dedicated on May 21, 1975. Carrying a 36 inch telecope, the KAO conducted airborne astronomy until 1995. The KAO succeeded NASA's Lear Jet observatory, which began flying in 1968 with a 12 inch telescope.
Credit
(NASA/SOFIA/USRA/ASP/L. Proudfit)
Image Number
SH-0004
