NASA has launched the Solar EruptioN Integral Field Spectrograph (SNIFS) mission to investigate the Sun's chromosphere, the layer between the photosphere and the corona. This mission aims to enhance understanding of solar phenomena such as flares and coronal mass ejections, which influence space weather and can affect satellite communications and power grids on Earth.
SNIFS employs an innovative instrument that combines imaging and spectrography to capture three-dimensional spectral data of the chromosphere. By focusing on specific ultraviolet wavelengths, including hydrogen's Lyman-alpha line, and spectral lines from silicon and oxygen, SNIFS provides insights into the Sun's internal dynamics and energy transfer processes.
The mission is conducted in collaboration with the University of Colorado Boulder and Queen's University Belfast. The data collected by SNIFS is expected to refine space weather forecasting models and contribute to the development of more robust technologies for space-based research and Earth-based applications.