This photograph, captured by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, illustrates a section of the Cygnus Loop, also known as the Veil Nebula. The image, created by the telescope’s Wide Field Camera 3 through the use of five distinct filters, has been further refined through advanced post-processing techniques. This has accentuated the emissions from doubly ionized oxygen (depicted in blue tones), as well as ionized hydrogen and nitrogen (rendered in shades of red). Photo credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, Z. Levay
The INFUSE initiative, a groundbreaking sounding rocket mission, aims to investigate the remnants of the Cygnus Loop supernova. Employing an innovative instrument that merges imaging with spectroscopy, the mission strives to unravel the complexities of stellar detonations and their significance in the formation of new cosmic entities.
A forthcoming sounding rocket venture is set to venture into space to explore how violent stellar terminations set the stage for the genesis of new celestial systems. The Integral Field Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Experiment, known as INFUSE, is scheduled for lift-off from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico at 9:35 p.m. MDT on October 29, 2023.
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The Cygnus Loop: An Astronomical Marvel
For a limited duration each year, the constellation Cygnus, the Latin term for “swan,” graces the night skies of the northern hemisphere. Located near one of its wings is a celestial object of keen interest to both amateur sky-watchers and professional astronomers: the Cygnus Loop, also identified as the Veil Nebula.
This visual representation exhibits the constellation Cygnus, or “swan,” situated in the nighttime sky. The Veil Nebula, or the Cygnus Loop supernova residue, is pinpointed close to one of the swan’s wings, delineated here within a rectangular border.
Image credit: NASA
The Cygnus Loop is what remains of a star formerly 20 times the mass of our Sun. Around 20,000 years ago, this massive star underwent gravitational collapse, resulting in a cataclysmic supernova event. Astronomers conjecture that even from a distance of 2,600 light-years, the explosion would have been sufficiently luminous to be visible from Earth during daylight hours.
Supernovae: The Cosmic Shapers
Supernovae contribute to a grand celestial cycle by dispersing heavy metals generated in their cores into the ambient clouds of gas and dust. They are responsible for producing all chemical elements in the universe that are heavier than iron. Over time, these elements, along with gas and dust, coalesce to construct planets, stars, and new stellar systems.
“Supernovae, like the one that generated the Cygnus Loop, play a pivotal role in galactic formation,” remarked Brian Fleming, a research professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and the lead investigator for the INFUSE project.
Decoding Supernova Mechanisms
The Cygnus Loop offers an unparalleled glimpse into an ongoing supernova explosion. The colossal cloud, already spanning over 120 light-years, continues to expand at an estimated speed of around 930,000 miles per hour (approximately 1.5 million kilometers per hour).
Rather than observing the supernova detonation itself, telescopic images display the dust and gas superheated by the shock wave, which emits light as it cools down.
“INFUSE aims to scrutinize how the supernova transfers energy to the Milky Way by capturing the emitted light at the moment the shock wave collides with isolated pockets of cold gas in the galaxy,” stated Fleming.
Pioneering Technology: INFUSE
Fleming and his team have engineered a telescope capable of detecting far-ultraviolet light, a form of light too energetic to be perceived by the human eye. This light exposes gas at temperatures ranging from 90,000 to 540,000 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 50,000 to 300,000 degrees Celsius) that remains incandescent after the impact.
INFUSE features an integral field spectrograph, the first such instrument to be deployed into space. The device synergizes two distinct methods for studying light: imaging and spectroscopy. Regular telescopes excel in generating images but cannot segregate light into varying wavelengths. In contrast, spectroscopy can dissect a singular beam of light into its component spectrum, revealing detailed information about its source, temperature, and motion.
Emily Witt, a PhD candidate, was responsible for installing the vital image slicer, the core optical component for INFUSE, in a CU-LASP clean room prior to its integration into the payload. Photo credit: CU Boulder LASP/Brian Fleming
INFUSE’s instrument captures an image and subsequently divides it, arranging the sections into a singular “keyhole.” This enables the spectrometer to separate each slice into its specific spectrum. The resultant data can be recompiled into a three-dimensional image, referred to by scientists as a “data cube.”
Consequences and Prospective Developments
By analyzing the INFUSE data, Fleming and his team intend to identify particular elements and their corresponding temperatures and spatial locations along the shock front.
“This is an exhilarating project to participate in,” declared Emily Witt, the lead graduate student at CU Boulder, who managed most of INFUSE’s assembly and testing and will oversee the data assessment. “These unprecedented measurements will advance our comprehension of how supernova remnants interact with their surrounding milieu, offering significant insights into how they eventually become constituents of planets like Earth.”
To reach outer space, the INFUSE payload will be housed in a sounding rocket. These uncrewed rockets are launched into space for brief data-gathering sessions before descending back to Earth. INFUSE will be carried by a two-stage Black Brant 9 sounding rocket, targeting a maximum altitude of around 150 miles (240 kilometers), where it will perform its observations before parachuting back for recovery. The team is optimistic about future upgrades and additional launches, and some components of the INFUSE rocket have been repurposed from the DEUCE mission, launched in 2022 from Australia.
The Sounding Rocket Program at NASA is managed at Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia, under the supervision of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The Heliophysics Division of NASA oversees the sounding rocket activities, while NASA’s Astrophysics Division supported the development of the INFUSE payload.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about INFUSE Sounding Rocket Mission
What is the INFUSE mission?
The Integral Field Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Experiment (INFUSE) is a sounding rocket mission aimed at studying the Cygnus Loop supernova remnants. Utilizing an instrument that combines imaging and spectroscopy, INFUSE aims to uncover the intricacies of stellar explosions and their role in the creation of new celestial entities.
What is the significance of the Cygnus Loop?
The Cygnus Loop is the remnant of a star that once had 20 times the mass of our Sun. Around 20,000 years ago, this star underwent gravitational collapse and erupted into a supernova. The Cygnus Loop serves as a valuable astronomical target for studying the properties and impact of supernovae on galactic formation.
When and from where will the INFUSE mission be launched?
The INFUSE mission is scheduled to be launched from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico on October 29, 2023, at 9:35 p.m. MDT.
How does INFUSE’s instrumentation work?
INFUSE employs an integral field spectrograph, which is a pioneering instrument set to be flown to space. This device integrates the benefits of imaging and spectroscopy. It captures an image and subsequently “slices” it, lining these slices into one large “keyhole” that can then be dissected into its spectral components. The resulting data can be reassembled into a three-dimensional image called a “data cube.”
What will INFUSE help us understand about supernovae?
INFUSE aims to provide comprehensive insights into the dynamics of supernova explosions, specifically how these explosions disperse energy into the Milky Way. The mission will enable researchers to identify specific elements, their temperatures, and their spatial arrangement along the shock front of the Cygnus Loop.
What kind of rocket will carry the INFUSE payload?
The INFUSE payload will be transported by a two-stage Black Brant 9 sounding rocket. It aims to reach a peak altitude of approximately 150 miles (240 kilometers) for its observational work, before returning to Earth via parachute for recovery.
Who is managing the INFUSE mission?
The mission is part of NASA’s Sounding Rocket Program, conducted at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island, Virginia. The program is managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and is under the purview of NASA’s Heliophysics Division and Astrophysics Division.
What are the future prospects for the INFUSE mission?
The INFUSE team aspires to upgrade the instrument for subsequent launches. Components of the INFUSE rocket have been repurposed from the DEUCE mission, which launched in 2022 from Australia, indicating a sustainable approach to mission planning.
More about INFUSE Sounding Rocket Mission
- NASA’s Official INFUSE Mission Page
- Sounding Rocket Program at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility
- Overview of the Cygnus Loop Supernova Remnant
- Introduction to Stellar Spectroscopy
- NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
- White Sands Missile Range Information
- NASA’s Heliophysics Division
- NASA’s Astrophysics Division
- The DEUCE Mission Overview
- University of Colorado Boulder Research on Supernovae
