NASA's
latest project, a joint collaboration with the German Aerospace Center, breaks
new ground for scientific discoveries. The new Stratospheric Observatory for
Infrared Astronomy (or SOFIA, as it's known) makes use of a modified Boeing
aircraft and a reflecting telescope to enable spatial observations far more
detailed than anything a land-based telescope could see. Get a sneak peak
inside SOFIA and learn how an O2 monitor plays a pivotal role in
keeping SOFIA safe.
SOFIA's Mission
The
airplane that powers SOFIA is a short-body 747, which is capable of burning
through 3,600 gallons of jet fuel per hour. The plane has been extensively
modified to support its new mission, which is to observe the universe using the
infrared spectrum of light. This is light that is invisible to the human eye.
Interestingly, many objects within space emit only infrared light, meaning that
astronomers cannot perceive them with the naked eye.
SOFIA
uses a lot of specialized equipment to make these infrared emissions visible.
The telescope on board has a 100-inch diameter. The instrument panel contains
cameras, spectrometers, and photometers which operate along near, mid, and far
infrared wavelengths to study different scientific phenomena.
The
telescope must be kept clean and properly chilled to see the infrared light.
Bathing the telescope in liquid nitrogen keeps it properly chilled, so the
telescope can detect midrange and far-out light sources. Nitrogen is used for
both of these purposes because it is cost-effective, readily available, and
will not damage the sensitive equipment.
SOFIA
will allow astronomers to observe star birth, star death, black holes, and
nebulae. It's difficult to forecast what other findings SOFIA may
facilitate.
In
some cases, distant objects are blocked by clouds of space dust, much like the
sun can become blocked by clouds. While the space dust prevents these
far-off objects from being seem, their infrared energy still reaches SOFIA's
powerful telescope. By studying the infrared light captured on SOFIA's
instruments, astronomers can learn about new phenomena and come to a better
understanding of complex spatial molecules, new solar systems, planets, and
more.
Why SOFIA Needs an Oxygen Deficiency
Monitor
One
small but mighty piece of equipment onboard the special aircraft is an oxygen
deficiency monitor. SOFIA's powerful telescope must be cooled with liquid
nitrogen. The nitrogen storage tank is located inside the crew
department.
Nitrogen
gas is heavier than oxygen. In the event of a leak, the nitrogen would actually
displace oxygen molecules, causing the cabin air to become deficient of oxygen.
Oxygen-deficient
air causes respiratory and cognitive problems within minutes, leading to death
via asphyxiation. Since this gas has no color or odor, there is no way the crew
can tell there is a leak onboard. This is where the O2 monitor comes
in: By taking continuous readouts of cabin oxygen, the oxygen monitor allows
staff to check ambient oxygen levels at a glance. Staff receive peace of mind
that everything is operating smoothly as well as a fast alert if oxygen
approaches hazardous levels due to a leak of nitrogen gas.
If a
nitrogen leak does occur, the plane must make an emergency landing—aborting the
mission to save the life of the personnel onboard. If something goes wrong
while SOFIA is in flight, and the aircraft has to land before the mission is
complete, the cost of wasted fuel is (pardon the pun) astronomical.
Since
there is so much riding on the oxygen monitor, NASA needed a reliable product,
one that would not drift from changes in barometric pressure. While there are
many oxygen deficiency monitors, several products on the market are sensitive
to barometric pressure shifts. PureAire offers hardy O2
monitors that are capable of maintaining reliable performance despite
barometric changes.
Our O2
monitor lasts for 10 or more years after installation with no maintenance
required, thanks to a robust zirconium sensor that outperforms the competition.
After installation, our oxygen deficiency monitor needs no calibration to
continue working accurately. If there is a nitrogen leak, the oxygen
deficiency monitor provides two built-in alarms, which operate at 90 decibels.
These alarms—which correlate to 19.5 percent and 18.0 percent oxygen—provide
the SOFIA crew with sufficient notification of any problems, so they can return
to safety.
It's
thrilling to have our products be a part of such a vital mission, and we cannot
wait to see what new discoveries SOFIA facilitates. Closer to home, PureAire
supports clients in a range of industries with high-value, long-lasting oxygen
monitors suitable for use anywhere they are needed. Learn more about PureAire's
products at pureairemonitoring.com.
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