Sept. 23: NASA could launch a mission to map the solar system’s boundaries.

NASA is considering launching a new mission to map the boundaries of our solar system. The proposed mission, dubbed the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX), would use a series of small satellites to study the region where the solar wind interacts with the interstellar medium. This boundary, known as the heliosphere, is a critical region that helps protect the Earth and other planets from harmful cosmic radiation. By mapping the structure and dynamics of the heliosphere, the IBEX mission could provide valuable insights into the way our solar system interacts with the broader galactic environment. The mission is still in the planning stages, and NASA is currently evaluating its feasibility and potential scientific impact. If approved, the IBEX mission could launch as early as 2021, with the goal of providing a comprehensive picture of the solar system's outer limits and the processes that shape its interaction with the vast expanse of interstellar space.