CU Boulder researchers to lead NASA mission to study interstellar “dust”

CU Boulder researchers to lead NASA mission to study interstellar "dust": The finish line is far in the future, but for scientists at the University of Colorado, anticipation is already running high over their selection to spearhead the science supporting a 2024 NASA mission aimed at studying the particles streaming toward Earth from the boundaries of interstellar space. Daniel Baker, director of CU's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Sciences, sees his lab's selection for a key role in the upcoming Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe mission as having been earned in part through its performance for NASA in the 2015 Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission, which launched four identical spacecraft into orbit around Earth to study the phenomenon of magnetic reconnection. "We've proved ourselves, because of the cost effectiveness and the vast experience of LASP in dealing with scientific data acquisition and distribution. LASP has just hit it out of the park as far as doing the right thing and working effectively… bridging the gap between operations and science," Baker said. "When you have a success like that, people take note." NASA said the purpose of the IMAP mission is to help researchers better understand the boundary of the heliosphere, which has been described as a sort of magnetic bubble, or cosmic filter, that surrounds and protects our solar system. It is the region where the steady barrage of particles from the sun, known as the solar wind, collides with material from the rest of the galaxy, which limits the amount of harmful cosmic radiation that enters the heliosphere. Related Articles * Third Sushi-Rama will bring sushi-go-around to Lone Tree in August * Boulder nightspot loses rare tavern liquor license in wake of CU student's death * Boulder startup to expand 3-D imaging technology for scientific research * 1 in 5 teachers holds a second job to make ends meet * VA hospital ribbon-cutting acknowledges long delays, cost overruns, controversy Read the full story at dailycamera.com. #ColoradoNews The finish line is far in the future, but for scientists at the University of Colorado, anticipation is already running high over their selection to spearhead the science supporting a 2024 NASA mis… copyright © 2016         from CU Boulder researchers to lead NASA mission to study interstellar "dust" via CU Boulder researchers to lead NASA mission to study interstellar "dust" November 11, 2018 at 08:13AM Silver Spring, MD Consumer Credit Counseling Unsubscribe from these notifications or sign in to manage your Email Applets.