Over the past two years, the scientists involved in the IMAGE mission have accomplished several scientific firsts including the first global images of the ring current, the plasma sphere, and the proton aurora. Additionally, by using IMAGE technology, SwRI scientists have become the first to observe detached proton precipitation regions. IMAGE resources have also been used by the Space Environment Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration for forecasting space weather.

     In the future, NASA will launch the TWINS mission which incorporates some of the same technology as the IMAGE mission but will use two spacecraft equipped with dual imaging systems. Everyday we are coming closer and closer to solving the mysteries of the aurora phenomenon. We have come a long way from the myths and legends of our ancestors, but we still have a long way to go.