Interstellar mapping and acceleration probe (IMAP) is a watershed mission that simultaneously investigates the acceleration of energetic particles and interaction of the solar wind with the local…

NASA's Goddard Space Center awarded a $90.273 million cost-no-fee definitive contract to The Trustees Of Princeton University for development and mission integration of the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) on December 18, 2018, with performance completion by January 31, 2028.

IMAP investigates the acceleration of energetic particles and the interaction of solar wind with the local interstellar medium through an integrated suite of 10 scientific instruments. The mission advances understanding of the boundary region where solar wind and interstellar medium interact, characterizes local interstellar medium composition and properties, and identifies particle injection and acceleration processes near the sun, in the heliosphere, and heliosheath. Observational capabilities include in situ measurements at 1 AU of solar wind electrons and ions (suprathermal, pickup, and energetic populations) and magnetic field data, remote imaging of plasma and energetic ions via energetic neutral atom imaging, and precise observation of neutral interstellar atoms penetrating the heliosphere. Complementary observations of interstellar dust and UV glow of interstellar neutrals add scientific context. Princeton serves as the principal investigator institution overseeing cost, risk, and science objectives across the full development, integration, test, launch, commissioning, and operations plan, and develops the Solar Wind and Pickup Ion (SWAPI) instrument.

Place of performance is Princeton, New Jersey. The solicitation was posted July 31, 2017 with award made December 18, 2018 without set-aside designation. Subcontractors include Southwest Research Institute, Menlo Innovations LLC, University of Colorado, University of New Hampshire, University of Delaware, George Mason University, University of Chicago, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, along with a multi-institution research team.

Interstellar mapping and acceleration probe (IMAP) is a watershed mission that simultaneously investigates the acceleration of energetic particles and interaction of the solar wind with the local interstellar medium. IMAP will 1) advance the understanding of the temporal and spatial evolution of the boundary region in which the solar wind and interstellar medium interact, 2) identify and advance the understanding of processes related to the interactions of the magnetic field of the sun and the local interstellar medium, 3) improve the understanding of the composition and properties of the local interstellar medium, and 4) identify and advance the understanding of particle injection and acceleration processes near the sun, in the heliosphere and heliosheath. IMAP is based on a complete and synergistic set of observations. In situ at 1AU, this requires detailed observations of the solar wind electrons and ions suprathermal, pickup, and energetic ION populations and magnetic field. For the outer heliosphere interaction, IT requires advanced global observations of the remote plasma and energetic ions over a broad energy range via energetic neutral atom (ENA) imaging, as well as precise observation of the neutral interstellar atoms penetrating the heliosphere. Complementary observations of interstellar dust and the UV glow of interstellar neutrals, while not required for the threshold mission, add important context and insights to deepen physical understanding of the baseline mission. These observational needs will require an integrated and coordinated suite of 10 instruments that span both the in situ and remote imaging aspects of the investigation. As the PI institution princeton university oversees the development of IMAP to ensure cost, risk, and science objectives are met in the context of an overall plan to develop, integrate, test, launch, commission, and operate the IMAP mission. Princeton will develop the solar wind and pickup ION (SWAPI) instrument, manage the mission science team, develop the interstellar dust experiment (IDEX) instrument data pipeline, initiate the future leaders program, and oversee the mission student collaboration.