Even
though the boundary of the heliosphere is presumably at a distance of 80-100
AU from the Sun, the interstellar medium penetrates to within 3 AU. This interstellar
wind provides a direct sample of present-day galactic matter. The Interstellar
Pathfinder mission combines highly sensitive instrumentation to explore this
inner edge of the interstellar medium. With this focus the Interstellar Pathfinder
mission is a logical first step toward the inevitable exploration
of interstellar space.
The Interstellar Pathfinder mission was proposed by Gloecker et al. in response
to NASA AO 98-OSS-03. The transparencies shown here are part of a presentation
by Thomas Zurbuchen and George Gloeckler given at the Interstellar Robotic Exploration
Workshop in Pasadena, CA, during August, 1998. The plots summarize major scientific
objectives for a mission to the inner edge of the interstellar medium.
Interstellar Pathfinder