NASA's FURST Mission Set to Compare Our Sun with Distant Stars

In an effort to understand our Sun in the broader context of the cosmos, NASA's Full-sun Ultraviolet Rocket SpecTrograph (FURST) mission is poised to offer unprecedented insights by studying the Sun as if it were any other star in the galaxy. The anticipated Black Brant IX sounding rocket launch on August 11th at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico marks a significant advancement in solar astronomy.

As viewed from our vantage point on Earth, the Sun is a lifeline, but in astronomical terms, it is but one of countless stars. FURST will embark on examining how our star compares to the multitude studied across the universe in terms of its ultraviolet spectrum, an area of research currently limited by the Earth's atmosphere and the sensitivity of space-based telescopes like Hubble.

Given that vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light is absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere, space offers the only vantage point for its observation. While orbiting telescopes have accomplished remarkable observations of distant stars in VUV, directing such sensitive instruments at our own Sun could cause damage. Advances in VUV spectroscopy have now bridged this technological gap, allowing for comparable solar observations.

The mission's expertise is drawn from collaboration, with Marshall Space Flight Center developing a suitable camera and avionics, as well as a new calibration system for this specific solar study. Meanwhile, Montana State University, leading the FURST mission alongside Marshall, contributed by designing the mission's critical optical system.

The impact of this mission will stretch well beyond the immediate horizon of solar physics. By obtaining the first far ultraviolet spectrum of the Sun, considered in the larger astronomical context, scientists anticipate enhancing our comprehension of stellar mechanisms.

FURST's journey will be brief yet packed with potential for discovery. During a scheduled five-minute observation window, the sounding rocket will open to capture the Sun's spectrum before descending back to Earth, allowing scientists to calibrate the instruments and collect data in real-time.

This launch represents an active year for NASA's Sounding Rocket Program and fortifies our understanding of the celestial body at the heart of our solar system. Both Kobelski and Kankelborg express their anticipation for the mission and the expected enrichment of our knowledge of the Sun. The FURST launch seeks to demystify our star and, in turn, enable us to better understand other stars that populate the night sky.

For those enthusiastic about witnessing this milestone in solar research, NASA has announced a live stream of the FURST launch on Sunday, August 11, during an hour-long window starting from 11:40 a.m. CDT on NASA's White Sands Test Facility Launch Channel.