Why is IBEX’s mission important?
The heliosphere is a layer that protects our solar system from incoming cosmic rays, energetic particles that come from outside the Earth. Cosmic rays are often made when a star explodes; others come from the Sun or from as far away as other galaxies. If cosmic rays impact something, they can do damage to atoms and molecules. The heliosphere protects our Solar System from some of these dangerous particles. If the Solar System did not have this boundary, then there would be around 4 times more high-energy cosmic rays that would enter our solar system. Life on Earth benefits from two other layers that protect us from cosmic rays – our planet’s magnetic field, or “magnetosphere”, and its atmosphere. If there were a dramatic increase in the number of cosmic rays entering the Solar System, such as from a nearby supernova, more cosmic rays may then reach the Earth’s surface. Damage to the Earth’s ozone layer could occur, and cosmic rays could cause damage and mutation to DNA. Mapping the cur
