Ultra will capture images of very energetic neutral atoms, particularly hydrogen (H) atoms, produced in the solar system at the heliosheath, the region where the solar wind slows, compresses, and becomes much hotter as it meets the interstellar medium (ISM). Approximately every three months, Ultra will produce detailed images that cover more than 50% of the heliosphere, providing new understanding about how energetic particles and pressures at the edge of the solar system and beyond vary over time to form our own heliospheric bubble.

Ultra’s measurements will complement those of IMAP-Lo and IMAP-Hi, providing a high-resolution comprehensive map of the origins and energies of the collected heliospheric particles and energies.

IMAP-Ultra design and assembly is led by John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL).