[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”20px” custom_margin=”||1px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” border_width_all=”40px” border_color_all=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)
is a refurbished Boeing 747 SP aircraft that is equipped with a
2.7-meter infrared telescope, making it the world\u2019s only flying
observatory. This innovative research plane enables scientists
to view the infrared spectrum of light, which is only partially
visible from the ground, from SOFIA\u2019s cruising altitude in the
stratosphere. It was jointly developed through a partnership
between the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and the U.S.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/tms-scotland.com\/solidworks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-19-134034.png” title_text=”Screenshot 2025-06-19 134034″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”40px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” border_width_all=”40px” border_color_all=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Scientific operation of SOFIA is coordinated by the German SOFIA Institute (DSI), which is based at the University of Stuttgart, and the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) in the United States. A consortium of German industry designed and manufactured the telescope on behalf of DLR. The vibrational and rotational isolation systems, tracking cameras, and telescope\/tracking system interface were developed by DSI. NASA was responsible for modification of the long-range aircraft, telescope installation, flight-testing, and operations. SOFIA\u2019s key advantage over ground-based telescopes is that astronomers can position the observatory at the precise location necessary to view rare celestial events, such as occultations, and make observations from the northern and southern hemispheres with the same set of instruments.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”40px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/tms-scotland.com\/solidworks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-19-134016.png” title_text=”Screenshot 2025-06-19 134016″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” transform_translate=”175px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” border_width_all=”40px” border_color_all=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
The SOFIA development team used SOLIDWORKS modeling
software to design the various assemblies and components
required to stabilize the telescope and tracking cameras during
flight. They also leveraged SOLIDWORKS Simulation tools to
validate and optimize design performance in the challenging
operating environment of a moving aircraft in the stratosphere.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”40px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” border_width_all=”40px” border_color_all=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
In addition to easing collaboration and communication across the mechanical design team\u2014the back-and-forth between the telescope stabilization effort and the positioning camera\/ telescope interface, for example\u2014the SOLIDWORKS design platform facilitated interactions with other teams responsible for electronics, software, and optics development.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”4px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”40px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” border_width_all=”40px” border_color_all=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” sticky_enabled=”0″ content_last_edited=”on|phone” content_tablet=”<\/p>\n
The development of the SOFIA flying observatory, which had
its first scientific flight in 2010 and began its official operating
status in May 2014, has led to a range of astronomical
achievements. These include the occultation of Pluto, when
Pluto\u2019s shadow moved across the Earth; the discovery of two
new molecules in the interstellar medium, sulfur hydride and
deuterated hydroxyl; and gas dynamics and star formation
discoveries at the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way.<\/p>\n
” content_phone=”<\/p>\n
The development of the SOFIA flying observatory, which had
its first scientific flight in 2010 and began its official operating
status in May 2014, has led to a range of astronomical
achievements. These include the occultation of Pluto, when
Pluto\u2019s shadow moved across the Earth; the discovery of two
new molecules in the interstellar medium, sulfur hydride and
deuterated hydroxyl; and gas dynamics and star formation
discoveries at the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way.<\/p>\n
“]<\/p>\n
The development of the SOFIA flying observatory, which had
its first scientific flight in 2010 and began its official operating
status in May 2014, has led to a range of astronomical
achievements. These include the occultation of Pluto, when
Pluto\u2019s shadow moved across the Earth; the discovery of two
new molecules in the interstellar medium, sulfur hydride and
deuterated hydroxyl; and gas dynamics and star formation
discoveries at the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/tms-scotland.com\/solidworks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-19-114736.png” title_text=”Screenshot 2025-06-19 114736″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_divider divider_weight=”12px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)is a refurbished Boeing 747 SP aircraft that is equipped with a2.7-meter infrared telescope, making it the world\u2019s only flyingobservatory. This innovative research plane […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":242404,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,14],"tags":[72,87,173,145,73,98,102],"class_list":["post-242408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-solidworks","category-tms","tag-3dexperience","tag-3dx","tag-aviation","tag-cad","tag-solidworks","tag-solidworks-in-scotland","tag-tms-cadcentre"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n