NASA's Rocket Mission: Exploring the Fiery Birth of Supernovas

NASA is launching the Integral Field Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Experiment (INFUSE) sounding rocket mission to study the Cygnus Loop, the remnant of a star that collapsed into a supernova 20,000 years ago. INFUSE will observe how the supernova releases energy into the Milky Way by analyzing the light emitted as the blast wave collides with pockets of cold gas. The mission will use a telescope that measures far-ultraviolet light to capture the sizzling edge of the shock front. By studying the elements and temperatures of the gas, scientists hope to better understand how material from supernovae contributes to the formation of planets and stars. The INFUSE payload will fly aboard a two-stage Black Brant 9 sounding rocket and aims to upgrade the instrument for future launches.