There are 2 sets of 5 apertures, or windows, on opposite sides of HITThe High-energy Ion Telescope (HIT) collects, measures, and maps very energetic particles coming through the heliosphere, as well as those flowing from the Sun. Near real-time energetic particle data collected by HIT will be used to better predict and warn scientists about Earth-bound solar storm activity.’s sensor head, the spaceward facing end of the instrument. The windows are arched in a way that gives each side a more than 90 degree field of view of the sky area it is facing. As the IMAP spacecraft spins, each side scans an entire hemisphere, and combined, they view the entire sky. Particles enter the window that aligns with its direction it was traveling, like entering a building from the side you approach it from. Which opening the particle enters into indicates to scientists where the particle is coming from in our solar neighborhood.

Each set of HIT’s apertures consist of a series of openings covered by different types of thin windows that let particles pass through and an aluminum structure that stop particles. These so-called collimators lead to a stack of detectors at the center of HIT’s head. How much energy the particles have as they enter the windows determines how far they are able to penetrate through the detectors, and the detectors measure how much the particles slow as they pass through.

Learn more about hit

Scientists use the information from HITThe High-energy Ion Telescope (HIT) collects, measures, and maps very energetic particles coming through the heliosphere, as well as those flowing from the Sun. Near real-time energetic particle data collected by HIT will be used to better predict and warn scientists about Earth-bound solar storm activity. in two ways. The first is to map the origin direction and energy level various particles have coming from the heliosphereThe bubble-like region surrounding the solar system inflated by the solar wind, shielding the solar system from interstellar radiation.. The second is to gather information about the charged high-energy particles flowing from the Sun. This helps scientists on the ground be able to monitor one of the most dangerous aspects of space weatherThe conditions and activity observed in interplanetary space caused by the Sun’s activity, such as solar flares, solar storms, and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Severe space weather conditions directed towards Earth can impact infrastructure and technology on Earth, as well as satellites, spacecraft, and astronauts in its trajectory. that can affect satellites and the safety of astronauts in the event of a solar storm.

Meet the Team

The HIT instrument was built at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. The HIT team is led by Instrument Lead Eric Christian, who also serves as a deputy Principal Investigator for the IMAP mission.

It has been a unique experience to take part in all the phases of the HIT experiment development, working with great science and engineering teams on the instrument design, characterization and testing. Seeing our detectorAn instrument which is used to discover that something is present somewhere, or to measure how much of something there is. finally installed on the IMAP spacecraft was priceless, and the best is yet to come! We can't wait to analyze the first solar particle event recorded by HIT in space!

- Alessandro Bruno, Research Scientist, HIT