Energy News  
NASA Awards SOFIA Development And Engineering Contract To L-3 Communications

Illustration only of SOFIA.
by Staff Writers
Edwards AFB CA (SPX) Feb 22, 2007
NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center has awarded a contract to L-3 Communications Integrated Systems, L.P., of Waco, Texas, for continued developmental and engineering work on the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). The cost-plus-award-fee contract could be worth up to $26 million over a five-year period if all options are exercised.

The contract takes effect Feb. 9, 2007, with a 23-month base period extending through Dec. 31, 2008. Three one-year option periods could extend the agreement from Jan. 1, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2011.

The tasks that remain for completion of the SOFIA airborne observatory platform involve two major parts, the Airborne System and the Cavity Door Drive System.

L-3 Communications will be responsible for completing development and testing of the Airborne System, including modification, fabrication, installation, integration, and verification of various systems to meet SOFIA mission requirements. In addition, L-3 is also tasked with providing engineering support and technical representation to NASA as necessary to support transition from development to operations.

The SOFIA program includes a high-altitude airborne observatory consisting of a 2.5-meter (100 inch) infrared telescope mounted in a cavity in the rear fuselage of a highly modified Boeing 747SP jetliner. Scientific instruments mounted in the observatory will be capable of celestial observations ranging from visible light through the sub-millimeter far-infrared spectrum. SOFIA is being developed jointly by NASA and the Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft und Raumfahrt (German Aerospace Center).

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
SOFIA programme
All about the technology of space and more
Space Technology News - Applications and Research



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


New Patent Protects Essential MSV Satellite Technology
Reston VA (SPX) Mar 05, 2007
Mobile Satellite Ventures has been awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,181,161 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This is the nineteenth patent issued to MSV protecting the company's hybrid satellite-terrestrial system including Ancillary Terrestrial Component ("ATC") technology.







  • Researchers Study Superconductivity, Magnetism In Novel Material
  • Software Patch Makes Car More Fuel-Efficient
  • Strategic Xinjiang Region Becomes China's Top Natural Gas Source
  • China Takes First Green Steps To Remake Electronics Industry

  • Three Russian Companies Found JV To Produce Uranium In Namibia
  • Sweden Restarts Nuclear Reactors
  • Czech Government Rejects Australian Bid For Uranium Mine
  • Russia, RSA Discuss Nuclear Cooperation Program - Agency Head

  • Satellite Method Measures Water Vapor
  • Global Assimilation Of Ionospheric Measurements Model Goes Operational
  • Airborne Dust Causes Ripple Effect on Climate Far Away
  • U.S. wood-fired boilers cause concern

  • Malaysians In Buying Bid To Save Forests
  • Soil Nutrients Shape Tropical Forests
  • Poland Threatens Fragile Forest Despite EU Warning
  • Malawi Ropes In Army To Save Its Forests

  • Practice Of Farming Reaches Back Farther Than Thought
  • European Ministers Uphold Hungary's Right To Ban GMO Crop
  • Ban Subsidies To Deep-Sea Fishing Bandits
  • Roses Are Red But Chocolate Can Be Green

  • Students Enter Competition To Produce A Zero-Emissions Snowmobile
  • Suburban Garages Suffering Identity Crisis
  • Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles Could Have System Benefits
  • Bulging Bumper Could Speed Journey To Computerised Carriageways

  • NASA Signs Defense Department Agreement
  • Lockheed Martin And FAA Reach Significant Milestone In Transformation Of Flight Services
  • Can UABC Take Russian Aircraft-Makers Out Of Spin
  • Superjet To Be Tested For Strength

  • Could NASA Get To Pluto Faster? Space Expert Says Yes - By Thinking Nuclear
  • NASA plans to send new robot to Jupiter
  • Los Alamos Hopes To Lead New Era Of Nuclear Space Tranportion With Jovian Mission
  • Boeing Selects Leader for Nuclear Space Systems Program

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement