NASA Launches Satellite to Study How Sun's Atmosphere is Energised
NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) spacecraft launched Thursday at 02:27 UT from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The mission to study the solar atmosphere was placed in orbit by an Orbital Sciences Corporation Pegasus XL rocket. Read more
NASA's next scientific satellite, which is scheduled for launch June 26, will provide the most detailed look ever at the sun's lower atmosphere or interface region. The Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) mission will observe how solar material moves, gathers energy, and heats up as it travels through this largely unexplored region of the solar atmosphere. The interface region, located between the sun's visible surface and upper atmosphere, is where most of the sun's ultraviolet emission is generated. These emissions impact the near-Earth space environment and Earth's climate. Read more
In late June 2013, NASA will launch a new set of eyes to offer the most detailed look ever of the suns lower atmosphere, called the interface region. This region is believed to play a crucial role in powering the suns dynamic million-degree atmosphere, the corona. The Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph or IRIS mission will provide the best resolution so far of the widest range of temperatures for of the interface region, an area that has historically been difficult to study. Read more