DC-8 Readies For Test Flight

NASA’s DC-8 Readies for test flight sits on the runway at Dryden’s Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif. Also prior to the Operation IceBridge test flight on March 17, 2010. Testing objectives for each instrument were successfully met during the 5.8-hour flight. Credit: NASA/Tom Tschida

NASA’s decision to move the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) from the Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif. Also in conjunction with the agency’s plan to place Dryden in charge of flight testing the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle’s launch abort system is increasing the workload, budget and staffing levels at the Mojave Desert outpost.