NASA’s Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft has resumed science operations following a period of inactivity that began on February 1st. IBEX was launched in 2008 to help scientists better understand the mysterious boundary that exists between our solar system and interstellar space. The spacecraft has been in hibernation mode since October 2020, when it lost communication with Earth due to a power issue. After extensive troubleshooting and analysis, engineers have now been able to restore power to the spacecraft and resume science operations. IBEX carries two instruments that measure the particles that make up the interstellar boundary, allowing scientists to map out the shape and structure of the boundary. Now that the spacecraft is back online, scientists are looking forward to learning more about this fascinating region of space.

Read Full Article Here

source: Phys.org