By Jacqueline Devine <\/p>\n
jadevine@alamogordonews.com<\/a> <\/p>\n @DearestDevine on Twitter <\/p>\n NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy is a highly modified Boeing 747SP jetliner carrying a 100-inch (2.5-meter) effective diameter telescope. Fitted with instruments that collect data at infrared wavelengths, SOFIA flies at altitudes between 39,000 and 45,000 feet on 10-hour overnight science missions. Alamogordo's Jeffery Killebrew and Michael Shinabery are the first educators from New Mexico to be selected to fly on the special jetliner. (Courtesy PhotoNASA) <\/p>\n NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy or SOFIA, the world's largest flying telescope has selected two Alamogordo educators to join them on an educational flight as Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors to learn about infrared astronomy. <\/p>\n New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired science teacher Jeffery Killebrew and New Mexico Museum of Space History Education Specialist Michael Shinabery will work side-by-side with NASA astronomers to study infrared light. <\/p>\n According to a press release from the SOFIA Science Center, SOFIA's Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors program began in 2010 and has flown 55 educators from the United States and eight from Germany between 2010 and 2014. Killebrew and Shinabery are the first educators from New Mexico to be selected to fly on the modified Boeing 747SP jetliner. <\/p>\n Jeffery Killebrew <\/p>\n Killebrew said starting Monday he and Shinabery will take a 10 week graduate level astronomy course from Montana State University before embarking on their flight. Exact flight dates have not been announced. <\/p>\n \"It's an exciting opportunity and we're very honored to have been chosen,\" Killebrew said. \"We were told it was a highly competitive selection process, so just to know that, it's truly an honor.\" <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Continued here: <\/p>\n Alamogordo educators take flight on NASA's SOFIA<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Jacqueline Devine jadevine@alamogordonews.com<\/a> @DearestDevine on Twitter NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy is a highly modified Boeing 747SP jetliner carrying a 100-inch (2.5-meter) effective diameter telescope. Fitted with instruments that collect data at infrared wavelengths, SOFIA flies at altitudes between 39,000 and 45,000 feet on 10-hour overnight science missions. Alamogordo's Jeffery Killebrew and Michael Shinabery are the first educators from New Mexico to be selected to fly on the special jetliner Continue reading