The telescope sits behind this mounting bulkhead, in an unpressurized section of the plane. It rests 'gimballed' in a spherical bearing, and is stabilized by huge gyroscopes. The telescope itself is blue, and the currently mounted instrument package is gold.

The instruments are cryogenically cooled using either liquid helium or liquid nitrogen. The plastic bag on top of the instrument will remain filled with the leaking coolant until the coolant depletes. The bag will deflate, signalling to crew that the coolant is nearly gone.

Control electronics sit in the rack mounted on the right of the telescope. There are inflatable 'brakes' to immobilize the telescope assembly (black rubber 'donuts' around the circumference of the blue assembly).

At left, lecturing, is pilot Emmanuel 'Manny' Antimisiaris, one of 2 pilots currently staffed for the SOFIA mission.