NASA and the DLR are developing SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy: a 2.5 m telescope in a Boeing 747SP aircraft. By flying in the lower stratosphere, SOFIA will allow astronomical measurements covering the wavelength range from 0.3 μm to 1.6 mm, with an emphasis on the spectral regions inaccessible from the ground, particularly the 6-8 μm and 30-300 μm regions. SOFIA will see “first light” in 2004; the science program will start in 2005. An operational lifetime of 20 years is planned.

SOFIA will support a diverse and evolving complement of state-of-theart science instruments. Its spectrometers will have resolutions ranging from ~ 108 down to ~ 100, as needed to measure absorption and emission from astrophysically significant atoms, ions, molecules, aerosols, and solids. This paper describes the spectrometers being developed to fly on SOFIA soon after first light, and summarizes some of the high-spectral resolution investigations expected.