 "Pegasus drops away from the L-1011")
NASA's IBEX spacecraft is poised to map the boundaries of our solar system.
Learning Section
IBEX Q & A
IBEX will explore the boundaries of our solar system. Learn more about the mission through questions and answers.
Did You Know...
About Our Solar System's Boundaries
See if you can test your knowledge about this subject or learn more by reading about it.
Interstellar Boundary Explorer Mission
IBEX is in Orbit!
Image above: Pegasus rocket being dropped from the L-1011 aircraft. Image credit: NASA
Oct. 19, 2008 - 2 p.m. EDT
After a smooth countdown and climb toward space, NASA's IBEX spacecraft is in orbit.
This is the beginning of NASA's two-year IBEX mission to study the interactions of hot solar wind colliding with the cold vastness of space, mapping the boundaries of our solar system.
› News Release
The IBEX spacecraft will conduct extremely high-altitude orbits above Earth to investigate and capture images of processes taking place at the farthest reaches of the solar system. Known as the interstellar boundary, this region marks where the solar system meets interstellar space.
› Read more
› IBEX Fact Sheet (690 Kb PDF)
› Watch IBEX Podcast
› IBEX Media Teleconference Page
› View Teleconference Multimedia
Image above: Pegasus rocket being dropped from the L-1011 aircraft. Image credit: NASAOct. 19, 2008 - 2 p.m. EDT
After a smooth countdown and climb toward space, NASA's IBEX spacecraft is in orbit.
This is the beginning of NASA's two-year IBEX mission to study the interactions of hot solar wind colliding with the cold vastness of space, mapping the boundaries of our solar system.
› News Release
Artist's impression of IBEX's launch and deployment. Credit: NASA/GSFC.
› View large image
› View animation
› High resolution animation and frames download
The IBEX spacecraft will conduct extremely high-altitude orbits above Earth to investigate and capture images of processes taking place at the farthest reaches of the solar system. Known as the interstellar boundary, this region marks where the solar system meets interstellar space.
› Read more
› IBEX Fact Sheet (690 Kb PDF)
› Watch IBEX Podcast
› IBEX Media Teleconference Page
› View Teleconference Multimedia
Mission News
-
NASA Launches IBEX Mission to Outer Solar System
IBEX will build an image of the outer boundary of the solar system from impacts on the spacecraft by high-speed particles called energetic neutral atoms.
-
NASA to Discuss Mission to Study Sun's Weakening Protective Bubble
NASA will hold a media teleconference on Friday, Oct. 17, at 1 p.m. EDT, to preview the Interstellar Boundary Explorer, or IBEX, mission.
-
NASA to Webcast IBEX Spacecraft Launch on Pegasus Rocket Oct. 19
The first NASA spacecraft to image and map the dynamic interactions taking place where the hot solar wind slams into the cold expanse of space will be launched on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 1:48 p.m. EDT, during a launch window that extends from 1:44 p.m. to 1:52 p.m. Called the Interstellar Boundary Explorer, or IBEX, the spacecraft will conduct extremely high-altitude orbits above Earth to investigate and capture images of processes taking place at the farthest reaches of the solar system.
IBEX Launch Control Center
Related Multimedia
IBEX Launches!
IBEX Launch and Deployment
 "Launch and Deployment")
The Boundaries of our Solar System
 "Solar system boundaries")
About IBEX
 "Artist concept of IBEX")
IBEX Beauty Pass
 "Artist impression of the IBEX spacecraft")
Prepare for the Mission
-
Test Your Knowledge
Find out if you've got the right stuff to plot the course for future space missions.
› Take the Quiz
IBEX Multimedia
-
IBEX Multimedia
A collection of videos, animations and still images, including high resolution downloads.