NASA launches mission to map edge of solar system

William Atkins
Tuesday, 21 October 2008 19:39

Science - Space

David McComas is the IBEX principal investigator and a scientist with the Southwest Research Institute, which is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A. He stated, “No one has seen an image of the interaction at the edge of our solar system where the solar wind collides with interstellar space.”

He added, “We know we’re going to be surprised.” [Aviation Week, see below for webpage]

The IBEX web page from the Southwest Research Institute is found at: SRI IBEX.

The mission of IBEX will be the first one to image and map dynamic interactions taking place within the outer reaches of our solar system.

For additional information on the launch of the IBEX, please go to October 20, 2008 article by Aviation Week: “IBEX Launched To Study Edge Of Solar System.”

Also, check out the Discover magazine article “Space Probe Launched to Study the Surprising Drop in Solar Wind .”

The iTWire article “NASA IBEX to see edge of Solar System” discusses various aspects of the IBEX mission.