Why in the news?

  • NASA has launched the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP).

Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP)

  • What is it?:
    • The mission is launched with an aim to map the heliosphere’s boundary, trace energetic particles, and improve space weather forecasting.
  • Orbit: Will be positioned at the Sun–Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1), about 1.5 million km from Earth.
  • Mission Duration: 2 years (with possible extensions).
  • Objectives:
    • Study the heliosphere: The vast protective bubble created by the solar wind around our solar system.
    • Investigate the boundary between the heliosphere and interstellar medium (ISM).
    • Understand cosmic rays: Origin, acceleration, and how they penetrate the heliosphere.
    • Improve space weather forecasting by examining how solar particles interact with Earth’s magnetosphere.
  • Payloads: It carries 10 advanced instruments-
    • ENA (Energetic Neutral Atom) detectors for imaging the heliospheric boundary.
    • Solar wind analyzers to measure plasma composition.
    • Cosmic ray detectors to study high-energy particles.
    • Dust instruments to measure interstellar dust entering the solar system.
  • Potential Benefits:
    • Mapping Interstellar Boundary: To build 3D maps of the heliosphere and its boundary.
    • Cosmic Ray Filtering: To understand how the heliosphere shields Earth from harmful galactic cosmic rays.
    • Solar–Interstellar Interaction: To probe how solar wind plasma interacts with the local interstellar medium.
    • Space Weather: Enhances understanding of solar storms and their effects on Earth’s satellites, power grids, and communication.
    • Foundation for Interstellar Missions: Lays groundwork for future deep-space probes like Voyager successors or interstellar travel.