ISLAMABAD, July 9 — As New Horizons continues its journey toward the heliopause, the scientific instruments aboard the spacecraft are poised to deliver measurements of the boundary where our solar system meets interstellar space. The spacecraft carries seven scientific instruments in total. These include the Alice ultraviolet imaging spectrometer, the Ralph visible and infrared imager/spectrometer, and the REX radio science experiment.
The LORRI long-range reconnaissance imager, the SWAP solar wind analyzer, the PEPSSI energetic particle spectrometer, and the SDC student dust counter round out the payload. For crossing the heliopause, two instruments are of particular importance.
The SWAP instrument measures solar wind particles and plasma, while PEPSSI measures energetic particles. The SDC, or Student Dust Counter, was built by students at the University of Colorado Boulder. This instrument counts dust particles in the outer solar system.
The spacecraft also uses its radio system for occultation experiments. These instruments will provide data on the plasma density, magnetic fields, and particle composition at the heliopause.
This information will complement the measurements made by the Voyager spacecraft. The key difference, scientists note, is that New Horizons’ instruments are more advanced than those on Voyager, allowing for higher-resolution measurements of the interstellar medium.
A more advanced toolkit for a historic crossing
New Horizons carries instruments that represent technological advancement. The SWAP instrument measures solar wind particles and plasma. The PEPSSI instrument measures energetic particles.
The Alice ultraviolet imaging spectrometer adds another dimension to the investigation. The Ralph instrument, which provided images of Pluto during the 2015 flyby, will also contribute to the heliopause science.
Complementing Voyager’s legacy
The Voyager spacecraft made history by becoming the first human-made objects to cross the heliopause. New Horizons offers the opportunity to study the same region with more advanced instruments. The plasma density measurements from SWAP will be particularly valuable.
The particle composition data from PEPSSI will also provide new insights. The Student Dust Counter will continue to measure dust particles as the spacecraft crosses the heliopause.
Looking ahead
New Horizons is currently on track to cross the heliopause. The spacecraft’s trajectory takes it through a region of the heliopause that is different from the regions crossed by the Voyager spacecraft, providing a complementary view of this important boundary. The instruments are healthy and operating as expected.
The spacecraft continues to return valuable data as it travels through the outer solar system, and scientists are eagerly awaiting the heliopause crossing. For patients and families following this story — and there are many who find inspiration in humanity’s exploration of the cosmos — the early findings suggest that our understanding of the solar system’s boundaries is about to improve dramatically.
The encouraging part is that New Horizons carries the most advanced instruments ever sent to study this region. As always, those with questions about how space exploration relates to their health or well-being should talk to their doctor.
