NASA Release of SOFIA Second Generation Instrument AO


As you probably know, SOFIA has begun conducting science flights with
the FORCAST mid-infrared camera and the GREAT heterodyne submillimeter
spectrometer. Most recently SOFIA also successfully observed the
occultation of a background star by Pluto with the HIPO instrument.
Over the next two years we will continue to bring on line additional
capabilities from the first generation suite of instruments.

One of the great strengths of SOFIA, though, is the ability to bring
on new instrumentation to reflect advances in technology. We are happy
to call your attention to the release of a solicitation for Second
Generation SOFIA Instrument Investigations. The solicitation will be
an amendment to the NASA Announcement of Opportunity for Stand-Alone
Missions of Opportunity (NNH08ZDA009O), and it can be found at the
NSPIRES web site:

http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ (select "Solicitations" then "Open
Solicitations" then "NNH08ZDA009O")
Date for Preproposal Teleconference: August 4, 2011
Due Date for Notice of Intent: August 15, 2011
Due Date for Proposals: 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 7, 2011 

Important information on the solicitation can also be found at the
NASA Science Office of Mission Assessments:

http://soma.larc.nasa.gov/SOFIA/

Please direct questions specifically regarding the NASA solicitation
to Dr. Paul Hertz, NASA SOFIA Program Scientist, Science Mission
Directorate, National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
Washington, DC 20546; Tel.: (202) 358-0986; E-mail:
paul.hertz@nasa.gov (subject line to read "SOFIA Instrument AO").

We hope that you will take advantage of this important opportunity,
and we look forward to the science made possible by these
investigations.


Erick Young Director SOFIA Science Mission Operations

Pam Marcum SOFIA Project Scientist