Federal award (DEFINITIVE CONTRACT, fiscal year 2024)
Recipient: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
Awarding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration / National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Funding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration / National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Period of performance: 2009-10-01 to 2027-09-30
Current total value of award: $198849969
Description: THE INTERFACE REGION IMAGING SPECTROGRAPH (IRIS) IS A NASA SMALL EXPLORER MISSION THAT OBSERVES THE SUN'S CHROMOSPHERE AND TRANSITION REGION, ALSO KNOWN AS THE INTERFACE REGION. IRIS IS DESIGNED TO STUDY HOW ENERGY AND PLASMA MOVE WITHIN THIS REGION, WHICH HELPS US UNDERSTAND HOW THE SUN'S CORONA IS HEATED AND HOW SOLAR ACTIVITY IMPACTS EARTH'S SPACE ENVIRONMENT. THIS MISSION FILLS A CRUCIAL GAP IN OUR ABILITY TO ADVANCE SUN-EARTH CONNECTION STUDIES BY TRACING THE FLOW OF ENERGY AND PLASMA INTO THE CORONA AND HELIOSPHERE FOR WHICH NO SUITABLE OBSERVATIONS EXIST.