SOFIA is an airborne observatory consisting of a 2.5-meter telescope installed in a Boeing 747 aircraft, a joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Center, DLR. SOFIA's science mission is managed for NASA and the DLR respectively by Universities Space Research Association (USRA) and the Deutsches SOFIA Institut (DSI) at the Universitaet Stuttgart. The observatory's base of operations will be Palmdale, but in full operations it will have regular deployments to New Zealand, as well as other locations for targets of opportunity. SOFIA will operate at altitudes of 39,000 to 45,000 feet (12 to 14 km), with 80% or greater transmission at infrared wavelengths inaccessible from high mountain sites. SOFIA's suite of 8 instruments (3 cameras, 4 spectrographs, and a high-speed photometer) cover the wavelength range from 0.3 to 1600 microns.

This event is hosted by SOFIA/USRA Science Mission Operations in Moffett Field and DAOF in Palmdale. The SOFIA "Telescope Assembly Characterization and First Light" flight, the observatory's first night flight and first measurements of infrared targets in flight, was successfully conducted on the night of May 25-26, 2010. Initial science flights are expected by the end of 2010. More information on SOFIA and its status can be found at http://www.sofia.usra.edu/.

The tour bus will leave Pasadena at 12:30 pm and return at 5:30 pm. The bus will depart from the main entrance of the Pasadena Convention Center (300 East Green Street, Pasadeana, CA 91101).

No open-toed shoes are allowed inside the DAOF facility; no exceptions.
No one under 18 years of age is allowed on the tour.

Security passes are required for entry into the DAOF. If you wish to go on the tour, you must reserve your seat by sending the following information with the subject line of "DPS SOFIA tour" to Dr. Jeonghee Rho no later than September 3:

(i) U.S. CITIZENS

Full Name (as it appears on government-issued photo identification*)
Date of Birth
Place of Birth (City, State)
Company/Institution Name
Driver's License number and State of issue (if applicable)
Last six digits of Social Security Number

(ii) FOREIGN NATIONALS

Full Name (as it appears on government-issued photo identification*)
Date of Birth
Place of Birth (City, Country)
Company/Institution Name
Driver's License number and State of issue (if applicable)
Last six digits of Social Security Number (if applicable)
Country of Citizenship
Permanent Resident Alien Number (if applicable)
Visa Number and expiration date (if applicable)
Passport Number and expiration date

*Note that your valid photo ID is required with you on the tour.