With the release of the first version of the SOFIA Technical and Operations Archive, a central repository for the technical documentation of the SOFIA telescope is now available. SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, was a joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The new archive, known as the Technology and Operations Archive (TOA), consolidates relevant information on the telescope’s technology and operations and is hosted by the SOFIA Data Center (SDC) at the University of Stuttgart. A key task of the SDC is to process the SOFIA astronomical data from the operational years 2010 through 2022 for scientific use and make it accessible via a Virtual Observatory (VO).
As early as the SDC's planning phase, it was intended to permanently preserve not only the astronomical data but also the telescope’s technical and operational information. The goal is to document the technical knowledge gained during development, manufacturing, integration, and operation for the long term and make it available for future projects.
„The exceptional performance of the SOFIA telescope is particularly evident in its inertial stabilization,” emphasizes Michael Hütwohl, SDC project manager and former Telescope Manager for the SOFIA telescope. “Even with the telescope door open, at an altitude of about 41,000 feet, and at an air speed of more than 850 km/h, the telescope could be aligned with its target with the highest precision for several hours.” This accuracy is illustrated by the fact that a laser pointer attached to the telescope would have kept its light spot within the circumference of a penny at a distance of 16 kilometers.
In addition to its astronomical tasks—such as the further development of data reduction methods and the establishment of the scientific archive—the SDC was therefore tasked with setting up the Technology and Operations Archive. “This underscores the special significance of the SOFIA telescope as Germany’s contribution to the joint SOFIA project with NASA,” said Hütwohl. Development, construction, and integration were carried out by a German consortium of companies led by MT Mechatronics GmbH (now OHB Digital Connect GmbH) and Kayser-Threde GmbH (now OHB System AG). The German SOFIA Institute at the University of Stuttgart was responsible for operations and continuous performance optimization.
The documentation follows the telescope’s Hardware Breakdown Structure (HBS). Each assembly is assigned a four-digit, hierarchical code; for example, HBS 1000 for the optical system and HBS 1100 for the primary mirror. This allows documents to be quickly and unambiguously assigned to and located within the various subsystems. During the active project phase, all documents were managed under version control in the Windchill document management system, ensuring that repairs, modifications, and further developments can be traced at any time. The final version of the documentation was subsequently transferred to the TOA.
The first version of the TOA, now available, primarily contains the telescope’s technical documentation. It is based on the so-called Acceptance Data Package (ADP), which consisted of approximately 150 file folders at the time of its handover to the DLR. The documents, which were originally available only in paper form, have been digitized, organized, and archived.
The archive will be continuously expanded in the coming years. Among other things, plans call for the inclusion of the complete maintenance documentation for the SOFIA telescope from the NASA Aircraft Maintenance Information System (NAMIS), which provides a detailed, chronological record of all maintenance, repairs, and modifications. In addition, further CAD models and simulation data are to be integrated. The finite element model of the SOFIA telescope is already available in the archive.
The Technology and Operations Archive is stored in the University of Stuttgart’s data repository (DaRUS). The platform, which is based on the open-source software Dataverse, enables the structured management of large datasets. Extensive metadata ensures that datasets and files can be efficiently searched and quickly located using filters. This structure also makes it easier for users outside the field to access the content and supports the transfer of knowledge to future projects with similar technical challenges. The University of Stuttgart’s Research Data Management team provided intensive support during the development of the archive.
University of Stuttgart employees can log in to DaRUS using their account. External users must obtain prior authorization, which can be requested through the SDC at DLR. The data verses and datasets available in DaRUS can be viewed without logging in. However, access to the files they contain is only possible with the appropriate authorization.
Detailed instructions on how to use the archive are provided in the document Using the SOFIA Technology and Operations Archive.
Contact:
- Dipl.-Ing. Michael Hütwohl
Project Manager, SOFIA Data Center
Phone: +49 711 685 69636
Email: michael.huetwohl@irs.uni.stuttgart.de - Dr.-Ing. Benjamin Greiner
Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter, SOFIA Data Center
Phone: +49 711 685 69624
Email: benjamin.greiner@irs.uni-stuttgart.de
Further links related to this news:
- SOFIA Technology and Operations Archive (TOA) in the University of Stuttgart Data Repository (DaRUS)
- SOFIA Data Center (SDC) at the University of Stuttgart
- SOFIA: Data goldmine for astronomical research, News of the University of Stuttgart, September 12, 2024
Further SOFIA links:
- SOFIA data collection at the IPAC Infrared Science Archive
- NASA SOFIA mission page
- SOFIA Missionsseite der DLR Raumfahrtagentur (German)
The SOFIA Data Center (SDC) is funded by the DLR Space Agency under grant number FKZ 50OK2404.
SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, was a joint project of the German Aerospace Center (DLR; funding codes 50OK0901, 50OK1301, 50OK1701, and 50OK2002) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It was carried out at the instigation of the DLR with funds from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWE) on the basis of a resolution by the German Bundestag and with funds from the state of Baden-Württemberg and the University of Stuttgart. On the German side, SOFIA activities were coordinated by the German Space Agency at DLR and carried out by the German SOFIA Institute (DSI) at the University of Stuttgart, and on the American side by NASA and the Universities Space Research Association (USRA). The development of the German instruments was financed with funds from the Max Planck Society (MPG), the German Research Foundation (DFG), and the DLR.
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