INFUSE: inflight performance and future improvements for the first FUV integral field spectrograph to study the influence of massive stars on galaxies

The Integral Field Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Experiment sounding rocket is the first far ultraviolet integral field spectrometer. It features an f /16, 0.49 m Cassegrain telescope and a 26-element image slicer feeding 26 holographic gratings, with spectra imaged by the largest cross-strip microchannel plate detector flown in space. The first launch of INFUSE occurred from White Sands Missile Range on October 29th, 2023, and demonstrated spectral multiplexing, successfully detecting ionized gas emission in the XA region of the Cygnus loop. The second launch of INFUSE is projected for spring 2025 to observe the star-forming galaxy NGC 2366 alongside companion NGC 2363. Housed within NGC 2366 is the Mrk 71 region, a prototype for studying highly ionized starburst regions, making NGC 2366 a local analog to Green Pea type galaxies. Several enhancements are planned for INFUSE before this second science flight, including adding an improved baffle to reduce contamination by second order light, improving grating alignment to reduce overlap between different spectrograms, and iriditing several surfaces to reduce scattered geocoronal Ly-α. An additional grating coated with xenon diflouride-enhanced lithium fluoride will also be added to flight qualify a new coating that may support ultraviolet capability on the Habitable Worlds Observatory. The second flight will also feature a ride along mission, the Spectroscopic Ultraviolet Multi-Object Observatory. We report on the results from the first launch as well as outline progress towards preparation for the second flight.