NASA's IMAP Launches to Study Space Weather and Solar System's Galactic Interaction
NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) has successfully launched into orbit. This international mission, led by the US and involving 25 institutions from six countries, including the UK, aims to study our solar system's interaction with the wider galaxy and improve understanding of space weather.
The UK's £4.2 million investment in the MAG instrument, developed by Imperial College London, will play a crucial role in measuring the strength and direction of magnetic fields in space. This will enhance our understanding of space weather, which can disrupt satellites, knock out GPS, and cause power cuts on Earth. IMAP's real-time monitoring will provide earlier warnings, strengthening global resilience.
IMAP will also detect high-energy particles, interstellar dust, and atoms drifting in from beyond the stars. This will help understand our solar system's interaction with the wider galaxy. Additionally, IMAP will study the solar wind and map the protective magnetic bubble around our solar system. After a 3-4 month transit, IMAP will reach its final orbit around the Sun about one million miles from Earth.
The UK's contribution to IMAP, through the MAG instrument, will help protect critical services and pave the way for safer human exploration of space. By improving our understanding of space weather and our solar system's interaction with the galaxy, IMAP will support safer missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
