SOFIA airborne over farmland
SOFIA airborne with its telescope cavity door open.
SOFIA over farmland in NASA’s white and blue scheme.
The telescope sits in the rear fuselage, ahead of the tail, behind a door that opened in flight at around 40,000 feet — above roughly 99 percent of the water vapour that blocks infrared light from the ground.
Image courtesy of NASA
More in Photo Album
Photo Album
Photographs of every major Boeing 747 variant and special-mission jumbo — airline service, freight, Air Force One, the Dreamlifter and SOFIA.
Boeing 747-8 Photos
The Boeing 747-8 in pictures — wing assembly, final construction, paint hangar roll-out, first flight and airline service.
747-400 Cargo
Japan Airlines Cargo Boeing 747-400F JA401J photographed on the ramp, showing the freighter's raised flight deck and nose door.
747-400D (Japan Airlines)
A Japan Airlines Boeing 747-400D, the high-density domestic variant built without the winglets fitted to other 747-400s.
747-8 Berths
Optional crew rest berths offered on the 747-8, tucked into the upper area of the cabin for long-haul operations.
747-8-Intercontinental forward fuselage
The first forward fuselage section of the 747-8 Intercontinental, delivered to Everett for final assembly.