NASA picks Small Explorer mission
Posted: Fri, Jan 28, 2005, 6:50 AM ET (1150 GMT)
NASA announced Wednesday that it has chosen a mission to study the boundary of interstellar space as the next mission in its Small Explorer (SMEX) program. The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission, led by the Southwest Research Institute, is scheduled for launch in 2008 on a Pegasus vehicle. From its location in an elliptical Earth orbit, IBEX will attempt to detect particles generated by the shock front between the solar wind and the interstellar medium. The $134-million probe will also measure cosmic radiation. NASA also said that it will continue studying another proposed SMEX mission, the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), a spacecraft designed to detect black holes in the "local" universe with a far greater sensitivity than other instruments. NASA will make a decision early next year regarding whether to proceed with NuSTAR.
NASA announced Wednesday that it has chosen a mission to study the boundary of interstellar space as the next mission in its Small Explorer (SMEX) program. The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission, led by the Southwest Research Institute, is scheduled for launch in 2008 on a Pegasus vehicle. From its location in an elliptical Earth orbit, IBEX will attempt to detect particles generated by the shock front between the solar wind and the interstellar medium. The $134-million probe will also measure cosmic radiation. NASA also said that it will continue studying another proposed SMEX mission, the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), a spacecraft designed to detect black holes in the "local" universe with a far greater sensitivity than other instruments. NASA will make a decision early next year regarding whether to proceed with NuSTAR.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Space Force adds Rocket Lab and Stoke Space to NSSL contract
Posted: Sun, Mar 30 9:19 AM ET (1319 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, April 3
How a kid from Pemberton helped lead a landmark commercial Moon landing
Australian Broadcasting Corporation — 6:00 am ET (1000 GMT) Eutelsat Begins OneWeb Services for the Aviation Market
ViaSatellite — 5:59 am ET (0959 GMT) Sierra Space demonstrates technology for Space Force satellite program
BizWest — 5:58 am ET (0958 GMT) Debrief: Vulcan On Deck
Aviation Week — 5:56 am ET (0956 GMT) ULA Targets April 9 For First Batch Of Amazon Kuiper Satellites
Aviation Week — 5:56 am ET (0956 GMT) |
