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NASA's IBEX Ready For Launch

Posted by Soulskill on from the leaving-the-nest dept.

dj writes "NASA has designed a mission to map the boundary of the solar system. The mission is called IBEX (Interstellar Boundary Explorer) and it is ready to launch. The data collected by IBEX will allow scientists to understand the interaction between our Sun and the galaxy for the first time. Understanding this interaction will help us protect future astronauts from the danger of galactic cosmic rays." The IBEX Launch Blog will go active "about 2 hours before launch scheduled for 1:48 p.m. EDT," and the Southwest Research Institute will be running webcasts of the event. The IBEX fact sheet provides more details about the mission (PDF). IBEX will reach space via a Pegasus rocket launched from an L-1011 "Stargazer" carrier plane. You can see the launch countdown schedule at NASA's site.

3 of 28 comments (clear)

  1. Powered by Ubuntu ... by seyyah · · Score: 5, Funny

    Finally, a truly intrepid IBEX.

  2. I thought the title said "Ibis" for a second. by Drakonik · · Score: 1, Funny

    You EVE-fags know what I'm talking about.

  3. Regular blog updates by sphealey · · Score: 3, Funny

    > The IBEX Launch Blog will go active
    > "about 2 hours before launch

    The blog will be updated every two hours until the probe reaches the edge of the solar system.

    27 years from now.

    sPh