The Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) was launched by NASA to explore the Sun's interface region, which lies between the photosphere and the corona. This segment of the solar atmosphere is crucial for understanding how solar activity impacts the solar system, especially phenomena like solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These events can have significant effects on satellite operations and power grids on Earth. Launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, IRIS was designed with a cutting-edge spectrograph, enabling it to capture high-resolution images and spectra of the Sun.

IRIS operates by utilizing a unique imaging technique that allows scientists to observe the flow of energy and plasma in the sun’s lower atmosphere. This mission has provided unprecedented insights into the processes that heat the solar atmosphere, a long-standing question in solar physics. With instruments developed to capture fine details of solar dynamics, IRIS has not only contributed to a better understanding of solar physics but has also aided in the broader study of stellar atmospheres.

The data collected by IRIS is instrumental in piecing together the complex interactions that drive the behaviors of solar features. This mission encompasses a collaborative effort among teams at different NASA centers and universities, aiming to push the boundaries of solar research and improve predictions regarding space weather phenomena that can affect Earth.