The rock star of telescopes!!!
I love this. I have been following the SOFIA program for many moons on paper, and I think I have more glossy little PDFs on this than any other NASA task, save perhaps the Mars rovers.
Now I have two wonderful photos I love seeing side-by-side, from 2009 and 2011:
![SOFIA](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LpelKnupKIwCSqXx3cgkZABIq9YS9iCFqs2IL-traN7yQuXCstpUlaDWQeIUQuR31X_mGqvA0GxCNv_4YqbO6nCMRIQEhaKA6f-erzv_4qM2Yh7NQld3YMqBapYkw7Qf1p3niq0p7bk/s400/sofia09.jpg)
Me with model of SOFIA at NASA Ames Research Ctr in 2008
![Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbKwOZUIqJVf0N8lnjk00NZLktMsb2RxR4hS_gljoj4sb9vG49nY1yEXXmS6hWGwOHCR6fNbd6tnVfexMC4CDNTOdYVTII1FCEv3wZ2KiWhZ8Yp-4J0uxFFrDfzBWT004Wm9ooYyELbA/s400/sofia11.jpg)
Me with the real SOFIA at NASA Dryden Aircraft Ops in 2011
SOFIA is the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, a modified Boeing 747 that will be NASA's and the DLR's premiere platform for airborne astronomy over her 20-year lifespan.
I can't wait to tell you all about it, and show you all my wonderful pictures from NASA Dryden when I get home! Must drive there first, however. On the road today!