SOFIA: Review of Initial Science Operations, 2010 - 2013

The long-awaited debut of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) occurred with first light on May 26, 2010. Subsequent initial science flight operations in 2010 and 2011 are reviewed to obtain a preliminary estimates of some general characteristics of operations to date, as a preview of what might be expected for flight operations in the near future. This includes the geographic envelope of science flights, altitude profiles, telescope elevation range, and observing leg durations. A brief summary is given of the distribution on the sky of observations during Basic Science, and the same for observations now being pursued in the current 2013 Observing Cycle 1. Solar system objects observed include Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto, asteroids, and Comet Hartley 2. These aspects of airborne astronomy and SOFIA operations to date are factors in evaluating airborne observing efficiency, science productivity, and operations cost effectiveness.