  A tremendous amount of radiation is emitted by the Interstellar Medium in the
mid- and far-infrared (3-500 {\mu}m) that represents the majority of the light
emitted by a galaxy. In this article we motivate ISM studies in the infrared
and the construction of large specialized observatories like the Stratospheric
Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), which just concluded its mission on
a scientific high note, and the newly launched James Webb Space Telescope
(JWST) that just begun its exciting scientific mission. We introduce their
capabilities, present a few examples of their scientific discoveries and
discuss how they complemented each other. We then consider the impact of the
conclusion of SOFIA for the field in a historic context and look at new
opportunities specifically for far-infrared observatories in space and in the
stratosphere.
