New Sounding Rocket Mission to Study Supernova Remnants
NASA is preparing to launch a new sounding rocket mission called INFUSE (Integral Field Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Experiment) to study the Cygnus Loop supernova remnants. The mission aims to uncover the mysteries of explosive stellar deaths and their role in creating new celestial bodies.
The Cygnus Loop, also known as the Veil Nebula, is the remnant of a star that was once 20 times the size of our Sun. Approximately 20,000 years ago, this massive star collapsed under its own gravity and exploded into a supernova. The resulting flash of light would have been visible from Earth during the day, even though the remnant is located 2,600 light-years away.
Supernovae, like the one that created the Cygnus Loop, have a significant impact on galaxy formation. The heavy metals forged in a star’s core are sprayed into surrounding dust and gas clouds during the explosion. These supernovae are the source of all chemical elements in the universe that are heavier than iron, including those that make up our own bodies. Over time, the gases and dust clump together to form new star systems, planets, and stars.
The Cygnus Loop provides a rare opportunity for scientists to observe a supernova blast still in progress. The massive cloud is expanding at a rate of about 930,000 miles per hour. The telescopes capture the dust and gas superheated by the shock front, which glows as it cools.
To study the shock front in detail, the INFUSE mission has developed a unique instrument that combines imaging and spectroscopy. The instrument measures far-ultraviolet light, revealing gas temperatures ranging from 90,000 to 540,000 degrees Fahrenheit. INFUSE is the first integral field spectrograph of its kind to be sent to space.
The INFUSE instrument captures images and then separates them into slices, which are lined up to create a “data cube” of 3-dimensional images. This data allows scientists to identify elements, their temperatures, and their distribution along the shock front.
“The INFUSE mission will help us understand how elements from supernovae mix with their surrounding environment,” said Brian Fleming, the principal investigator for the mission. “This knowledge is crucial for understanding how material from supernovae becomes part of celestial bodies like Earth and even life as we know it.”
The INFUSE payload will be launched aboard a sounding rocket from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico on October 29, 2023. The payload will reach a peak altitude of 150 miles before making observations and parachuting back to Earth for recovery. The team hopes to upgrade the instrument and launch again in the future.
The INFUSE mission is an exciting endeavor that will provide valuable insights into the dynamics of supernovae and their impact on the creation of new star systems. It represents a significant step toward unraveling the mysteries of the universe and our place within it.