SNAP

The Supernova/Acceleration Probe (SNAP) is a mission concept to determine the spatial curvature of the universe thus providing a fundamental test of the theory of cosmological inflation. The key elements in the investigations will be observations of type Ia supernovae as an astronomical standard candle to provide a distance scale, which, combined with the recession velocities of those objects, helps to determine key cosmological parameters and ultimately the nature of the "missing energy" in the universe. Several STScI scientists are SNAP team members, and STScI is providing support for operational studies.