A Review of Science Ground Operations for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)

The NASA Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is a 2.5[Formula: see text]m telescope in a modified Boeing 747SP aircraft that is flown at high altitude to do unique astronomy in the infrared. SOFIA is a singular integration of aircraft operations, telescope design, and science instrumentation that delivers observational opportunities outside the capability of any other facility. The science ground operations are the transition and integration point of the science, aircraft, and telescope. We present the ground operations themselves and the tools used to prepare for mission success. Specifically, we will discuss operations from science instrument delivery to aircraft operation and mission readiness. We will also provide a discussion of instrument life cycle including maintenance and repair, both before and after acceptance by the observatory as well as retirement. Included in that will be a description of the facilities and their development, an overview of the SOFIA telescope assembly simulator, our deployment capabilities, as well as an outlook to the future of novel science instrument support for SOFIA.

Boundary Element Calculation of Near-Boundary Solutions in 3D Generally Anisotropic Solids by the Self-Regularization Scheme

This research targets investigation of the internal elastic field near the boundaries of 3D anisotropic bodies by the boundary element method (BEM). This analysis appears to be most important, especially for the interest in the internal solutions near corners or crack tips, where structural failure is most likely to occur. Although the BEM is very efficient for analyzing the problem, nearly singular integration will arise when the internal point of interest stays near the boundary. The present work is to show how the self-regularized boundary integral equation (BIE) can be applied to the interior analysis for 3D generally anisotropic bodies. So far, to the authors' best knowledge, no implementation work has been reported in the literature for successfully treating the near boundary solutions in 3D generally anisotropic solids. In the end, a few benchmark examples are presented to demonstrate the veracity of the present approach for the interior BEM analysis of 3D anisotropic elasticity.

Statical Performance Analysis of the Reconfigurable Machine Tool Structure by Boundnary Element Method

The overall performace of a reconfigurable machine tool strcture is affected by its reconfigurable schemes. It is significant to predict a machine tool structure performance for choosing the reconfigurable scheme of reconfigurable machine tools. The boundary element model of a thick plate bending is built basing on the Hu Hai-chang theroy which is pulled in the foundation of Reissner theory. Then the boundary integral equation and its fundamental solutions are given out and calculations of singular integration on boundary are presented. Finally the analysis method of a reconfigurable machine tool structure is established based on the thick plate bundary element modal. Case study shown that the proposed analysis method of the reconfigural machine tool structure is effective.