Ibex

Interstellar Boundary Explorer

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General

Designation	33401 / 08051A
Launch date	19 Oct 2008
Country of origin	United States
Mission	Astronomy
Perigee/Apogee	12,800 / 320,000 km
Inclination
Period
Launch vehicle	Pegasus XL #41

The mission of the satellite is to make the first comprehensive image map of the boundary between the Solar System and interstellar space, where hot solar winds collide with the cold expanse of space. In partnership with the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) of San Antonio, Texas/USA, which is managing the IBEX scientific program, with mission funding provided by NASA.
Worth $60 million

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.

Is attached to a solid-state motor to reach the high elliptic orbit.

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External resources

http://www.nasa.gov/ibex

sat-index articles

Technical data

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Specifications

Prime contractor	OSC
Platform	MicroStar
Mass at launch	107 kg (450 kg with solid-state motor)
Dry mass	80 kg
Dimension	0.6 m high x 1 m diameter
Solar array
Stabilization
DC power	116 W
Design lifetime	2 years

Carries two ENA (Energetic Neutral Atom) cameras.

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