The Spectroscopy of Plasma Evolution from Astrophysical Radiation   Mission
  The Spectroscopy of Plasma Evolution from Astrophysical Radiation (or the Far-ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph) instruments, flown aboard the STSAT-1 satellite mission, have provided the first large-area spectral mapping of the cosmic far ultraviolet (FUV, lambda 900-1750 Ang) background. We observe diffuse radiation from hot (10^4 to 10^6 K) and ionized plasmas, molecular hydrogen, and dust scattered starlight. These data provide for the unprecedented detection and discovery of spectral emission from a variety of interstellar environments, including the general medium, molecular clouds, supernova remnants, and super-bubbles. We describe the mission and its data, present an overview of the diffuse FUV sky's appearance and spectrum, and introduce the scientific findings detailed later in this volume. 
J. Edelstein, K. W. Min, W. Han, E. J. Korpela, K. Nishikida, B.Y.   Welsh, C. Heiles, J. Adolfo, M. Bowen, W.M. Feuerstein,...