1 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) R. D. Gehrz a and E. E. Becklin b a University of Minnesota b Universities Space Research Association This talk is at:

2 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 Outline SOFIA Description and Status Report SOFIA Performance Specifications SOFIA First-Light and Early Science Images SOFIA Schedule and General Investigator (GI) Opportunities Summary

3 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 SOFIA Overview 2.5 m telescope in a modified Boeing 747SP aircraft –Imaging and spectroscopy from 0.3  m to 1.6 mm –Emphasizes the obscured IR (  m) Operational Altitude –39,000 to 45,000 feet (12 to 14 km) –Above > 99.8% of obscuring water vapor Joint Program between the US (80%) and Germany (20%) –First Light images were obtained on May 26, 2010 –20 year design lifetime –can respond to changing technology –Ops: Science at NASA-Ames; Flight at Dryden FRC (Palmdale- Site 9) –Deployments to the Southern Hemisphere and elsewhere –> hour flights per year

4 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 Above 99.8% of the water vapor Transmission at 14 km >80% from 1 to 800 µm; emphasis on the obscured IR regions from 30 to 300 µm Instrumentation: wide variety, rapidly interchangeable, state- of-the art – SOFIA is a new observatory every few years! Mobility: anywhere, anytime Twenty year design lifetime A near-space observatory that comes home after every flight The Advantages of SOFIA

5 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 The SOFIA Observatory open cavity (door not shown) TELESCOPE pressure bulkhead scientific instrument scientist stations, telescope and instrument control, etc. Educators work station

6 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 Primary Mirror M1 M2 M3-1 M3-2 f/19.6 Focal Plane Focal Plane Imager Pressure bulkhead Nasmyth tube Spherical Hydraulic Bearing Observers in pressurized cabin have ready access to the focal plane Nasmyth: Optical Layout

7 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 Primary Mirror Installed Oct. 8, 2008

8 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 Back End of the SOFIA Telescope

9 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 SOFIA Airborne with Door Open! NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy 747SP on Dec. 18, (NASA Photo / Carla Thomas)

10 R. D. Gehrz As an airborne mission, SOFIA supports a unique, expandable instrument suite SOFIA covers the full IR range with imagers and low to high resolution spectrographs 4 instruments at Initial Operations; 7 instruments at Full Operations. SOFIA will take full advantage of improvements in instrument technology. There will be one new instrument or major upgrade each year. Will support both Facility Instruments and PI Class Instruments SOFIA Science Instruments 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011

11 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 Photometric Sensitivity and Angular resolution SOFIA is diffraction limited beyond 25 µm (θmin ~ λ/10 in arcseconds) and can produce images three times sharper than those made by Spitzer SOFIA is as sensitive as ISO

12 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 AAS/DPS Meeting, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, July 19, SOFIA First Light 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011

13 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 The First Light and Early Science with FORCAST The FORCAST Team The DSI Telescope Assembly and Mission Operations Team in action during the First Light Flight

14 R. D. Gehrz First Light on May 26, 2011 UT: We demonstrated diffraction limited imaging capability at 30 microns Red = 37.1  m, Green = 24.2  m, Blue = 5.4  m 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011

15 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 AAS/DPS Meeting, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, July 19, SOFIA Early Science: Images of Star Formation 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011

16 R. D. Gehrz Orion 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011

17 R. D. Gehrz Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation, Boulder, CO, June 3, th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011

18 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 SOFIA Early Science Images Red = 37.1  m, Green = 24.2  m Red = 20  m Green = 12  m Blue = 11  m Wyoming Infrared Image from Herzog et al., 1980, Sky and Telescope, 59, 18

19 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 Basic Science Schedule There was a factor of four oversubscription May – June 2011 FORCAST Basic Science Flights completed successfully June 2011 Observatory Engineering Flights and HIPO/Fast Imaging Camera observations of a Pluto occultation July – September 2011 GREAT Early Science

20 R. D. Gehrz May 5, 2011: First Guest Observer on SOFIA 20 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011

21 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 Next Call for Science October 2011Next Call for GI Science Proposals January 12, 2012 Next Science Proposals Due Summer 2012Next Science Flight Series Begins SIs Available:  GREAT  FORCAST (with grisms)  HIPO  FLITECAM (with grisms)

22 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 Future Instrumentation Development Draft solicitation released on December 15, 2010 First Solicitation release: Mid 2011 (target) Proposals due 90 days later Selections announced: Late 2011 Contracts initiated: Early 2012 There will be additional calls every three years $5-$10 million/year for life of the program

23 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 Summary The Program is making progress!  Flight envelope testing is completed  Science flights have begun SOFIA will be one of the primary observational facilities for far-IR and submillimeter astronomy for many years Our Web site: This talk:

24 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 Backup

25 R. D. Gehrz SOFIA’s First-Generation Instruments ( see also Gehrz et al (arXiV: ) 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011

26 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011

27 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011

28 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 SOFIA’s FORCAST First-Light Images: M82 May 26, 2010 UT

29 R. D. Gehrz 66th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Columbus, OH, June 23, 2011 PSF and Jitter from Images of  Cygni 2, ms images shifted and co-addedSame data w/o shift and add