NASA Boeing 747SP retires after stellar career

NASA’s Boeing 747SP, N747NA (c/n 21441), which was adapted to carry a large telescope and was referred to as the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), flew its last mission yesterday (September 29).The aircraft operated between 38,000-45,000ft, putting its onboard telescope above 99% of the Earth’s infrared-blocking atmosphere providing astronomers the opportunity to study the universe in ways not possible on the ground. The observatory’s mobility gave additional flexibility allowing observations to be conducted from almost anywhere on the planet