Observatory Construction Awarded Published Jan. 9, 2012 By Eva Blaylock, AFRL/RVOT Space Vehicles KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico -- The Improved Solar Optical Observing Network (ISOON) contract for construction at Kirtland AFB was awarded to GranCor Construction on July 1, 2011. The Improved Solar Observing Optical Network (ISOON) is collaboration between the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate, the Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA), and the Air Force Space and Missiles System Center. ISOON was developed as a modern replacement for the existing SOON system that is currently operational at four sites around the globe and was designed to continuously patrol the sun for flares and other activity that could affect systems on or near the earth. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2012. Following building construction, the ISOON telescope will be relocated from the National Solar Observatory, Sunspot, N.M., to Kirtland AFB. This will be first of the deployed ISOON units for daily, continuous monitoring of the sun. Unlike, SOON, the ISOON telescope is a completely robotic telescope and no on-site personnel observing personnel are required. Instead, the high-quality images of the sun are continuously monitored by computers at the site and also by personnel located at a central forecasting facility at the AFWA located at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. Individual telescopes will be deployed to San Vito, Italy, Kaena Point, Hawaii, Learmonth, Australia, and Holloman AFB, N.M.