More than a handful of scientific flights to observe the universe in infrared: the SOFIA airborne telescope will retire in September. American-German collaboration, it was a real technical challenge achieved. But the telescope costs too much, is too complex and yields too little data.
Hoping that it will be possible to admire it one day somewhere?
A real gem
This time, Americans and Germans managed to agree on the end of the SOFIA project (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy). The large infrared telescope, 2.7 m in diameter, shoehorned into the cabin of a Boeing 747 and stabilized with its instruments, celebrated its 12-year career this year… But it was expensive, very expensive: 85 million dollars to operate annually, which is the most expensive astrophysical project for NASA after Hubble (the JWST is not in the list because it is not yet operational).
This budget was divided between the telescope itself, the Boeing 747 SP specially modified for it with a stabilization system and opening in the fuselage, as well as the preparation of operations. Because even if the objective of SOFIA is to observe the universe from an altitude of 12 km (85% of the infrared range then being accessible to it), above the clouds and with the capacity to evolve around the world, it remains a very difficult telescope to implement… As much as an incredible technical success.
Return on investment
Citing costs as well as a “low” scientific return compared to the amount invested, NASA, in agreement with the German agency DLR, decided on April 28 that SOFIA would be retired by September 30. The Boeing 747 still has 70 scientific flights planned by then, including more than ten in preparation for a major scientific campaign to be conducted this summer from New Zealand.
Used to observe comets, planetary clusters and to characterize the very tenuous atmospheres of the planets and moons of the Solar System during transits in front of stars, SOFIA has not succeeded in marking astronomy with an indelible mark. Yes, it allowed advances with the Moon, Pluto, Triton or even the most distant object ever flown over, Arrokoth… But its low availability, even as fixed telescopes gained in capacity with larger optics and corrections atmospherics, ended up dooming him.
What future for SOFIA?
Scientists linked to the project believe that the lack of recognition of SOFIA’s results is linked to a report produced in 2019 which precisely led to a major improvement in the program… But their call has not been heard this year. Indeed on several occasions the White House had proposed to retire SOFIA before, but the American Congress had systematically saved the airborne telescope. Not this time !
Some observations, in particular those planned for “cycle 10” which was to start in November, will have to be transferred to other organisations. And the telescope itself? Magnificent piece of engineering as well as aviation, it would be necessary to find an appropriate case for it. In the meantime, it is likely to remain in indefinite storage at Palmdale Airport.
Source : SPACENEWS
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