IMAP - Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe

☀️ The super science minds of the are gathered this week at Princeton University to share and discuss the first 6 months of data collected about our solar neighborhood and protective cosmic bubble - our - before it is released to the world. It's an exciting time for and ! ☀️

GO IMAP! 👏👏👏

We are excited to announce that IMAP's Principal Investigator Professor David McComas was awarded the SigmaPhi Prize in Statistical Physics at the SigmaPhi International Conference in Kolymbari, Greece this week. Read more below and join us in congratulating Professor McComas on this distinguished honor from the international community in the comments below!

At the SigmaPhi Conference held this week in Kolymbari, Greece, David McComas, Professor of Astrophysical Sciences, received the SigmaPhi Prize at the SigmaPhi International Conference in Statistical Physics. The prize is to “honor outstanding achievements in Statistical Physics", and the citation on McComas’ award reads “In recognition of his transformative leadership in space science and heliophysics, bridging cutting-edge space observations with statistics and thermodynamics.” This prize is awarded every three years, and Dave shares this honor with Euthimios Kaxiras (Harvard) and Constantino Tsallis (Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Fisicas, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil).

Congratulations, David!

👀 Watch it with UNH Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space - UNH EOS and the whole team! 👀

https://imap.princeton.edu/media-library/imap-documentary

Princeton marked the start of IMAP's science mission with a panel discussion of IMAP leaders, science talks, and a reception on Thursday, Feb. 26, hosted by the Center on Science and Technology.

The Princeton-built SWAPI instrument was one of the first to turn on, which Jamie Rankin (SWAPI lead & astrophysics lecturer) described as “the real moment of truth, to see if it was all that we had envisioned it to be.” SWAPI began gathering science data soon afterward. “A couple days later, some large space weather activity passed by, and it was incredible,” she said, noting that SWAPI’s performance was “an order of magnitude better than we expected.”

Read more from the Princeton News Blog on IMAP's mission at the 🔗 in the first comment!

Photos by David Kelly Crow

Happy International Women's Day from the women of IMAP! This team is full of incredible women around the world who make space science possible - let's celebrate their hard work, brilliance, and exemplary leadership 🌟💫🚀

How are you marking ?

Thanks to Princeton University for sharing our IMAP celebration event and an insightful panel discussion from our PI & team.

Congrats to our team & affiliate institutions on a picture-perfect launch, arrival at LaGrange Point 1, and First Light Data! 💫🌟👏🏻

The Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe, a Princeton-led NASA mission to study the Sun and everything it touches, has officially begun its science mission: https://bit.ly/4rZtiQk

The mission will explore and map the heliosphere — the invisible cosmic shield surrounding our solar system — and to answer some great unknowns about how particles accelerate in the solar wind. The spacecraft, instruments and science preparation involved a team of institutions and major suppliers that spans 82 U.S. partners in 35 states, plus the United Kingdom, Poland, Switzerland, Germany and Japan, under the leadership of Princeton astrophysicist David McComas.

A night of IMAP celebrations! 💫🎊☀️

Last week, the community gathered for a celebration of IMAP's successful launch, first light data, and the amazing teamwork that goes into a mission of this scale. After an introduction from Jo Dunkley (Professor of Astrophysics & OBE🇬🇧) and virtual remarks from University President Eisgruber, the IMAP team took the stage with Peter Schiffer (Dean for Research; VP for the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory) moderating. Panelists included Dave McComas, our mission PI; Jamie Rankin, SWAPI instrument lead; Jamey Szalay, CAVA tool lead; and Joe Westlake, Director of 's Science Mission Directorate Heliophysics Division, all happy to talk about IMAP's journey, the importance of space science, and what's coming in 2026 & beyond. ✨

Students whose research centers on IMAP & astrophysics presented their work in the lobby, with 3D-printed and Lego models of IMAP on hand for interactive viewing. Great work by all!

In addition to discussing launch excitement and the power of teamwork, we premiered clips from the IMAP documentary! Stay tuned for more on that front soon 🎥

Thank you to everyone whose hard work made this evening possible - we appreciate you! 🙌🏻