World's Largest Airborne Telescope Delivered

Posted by michael on Friday September 6, 2002 @12:59AM from the palintir dept.

Thurog writes "SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, has received the telescope built in Germany by the German Space Agency, DLR. SOFIA consists of a Boeing 747SP aircraft modified by L-3 Communications Integrated Systems to accommodate a 2.5 meter reflecting telescope. When on a mission, it will soar through the higher levels of the atmosphere, thereby overcoming the fact that atmospherical humidity filters most of incoming infrared radiation. It's not the first airborne telescope, but so far the most powerful."

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I hope that we can trust the Germans... by 0x69 · 2002-09-06 02:03 · Score: -1, Troll

Hopefully the Germans "fixed" this thing so it can only be used for astronomy...not for watching people who's brain waves looked suspicious when they were pledging "Everything that President Bush says is Truth, Peace, Freedom, and the American Way. Only sub-human terrorists and traitors ever doubt this."

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It's easy to make up & spread cool- and credible-sounding stuff. Finding & checking hard facts is hard work.