A SpaceX Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch a trio of heliophysics and space weather missions to the Sun–Earth L1 point no earlier than Sept. 23, 2025, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The combined payload includes NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), NASA’s Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, and NOAA’s Space Weather Follow On–L1 (SWFO‑L1). The missions will separate after launch and cruise to a halo orbit around L1, roughly 1 million miles sunward of Earth, to begin complementary science and operational observations.
Mission profile
Following ascent, the spacecraft will deploy on a Sunward trajectory toward L1, where gravitational forces balance to enable continuous, unobstructed monitoring of the Sun and near‑Earth space. Each spacecraft will complete instrument activation, calibration, and commissioning before entering routine operations. From L1, the platforms can simultaneously sample the solar wind upstream of Earth and observe solar and geospace dynamics without Earth occultations.
IMAP: mapping the heliosphere
IMAP will investigate the structure and dynamics of the heliosphere—the vast bubble formed by the solar wind—and the processes that accelerate charged particles. The mission will study interactions at the heliosphere’s outer boundary with interstellar space and provide near real‑time measurements of solar wind and energetic particles. These data are expected to refine models that forecast space weather impacts on satellites, crewed missions, aviation, and ground infrastructure.
Carruthers Geocorona Observatory: imaging Earth’s exosphere
The Carruthers mission will conduct global imaging of Earth’s exosphere, or geocorona, from L1. This vantage point enables persistent, full‑disk views to characterize the layer’s shape, density, and variability across seasons and during solar storms. By clarifying how the exosphere stores and releases energy, the mission will improve understanding of how space weather couples into the near‑Earth environment, affecting communications and systems operating at high altitudes.
SWFO‑L1: operational space weather monitoring
NOAA’s SWFO‑L1 is designed for 24/7 operational space weather observations. The spacecraft will monitor the Sun’s outer atmosphere for coronal mass ejections and measure the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field upstream of Earth in real time. Its data will feed NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, supporting earlier and more reliable alerts that help operators protect satellites, power grids, and other critical services.
Why it matters for the space sector
Together, the three missions strengthen the link between fundamental heliophysics research and operational forecasting. For satellite owners and operators, improved lead time and fidelity in space weather alerts enable safer maneuver planning, anomaly mitigation, and radiation risk management. Launch providers and mission planners can incorporate higher‑confidence environmental constraints, while crewed and high‑altitude aviation operations gain more precise radiation environment awareness.
At a glance
- Launch vehicle: SpaceX Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center
- Destination: Sun–Earth L1 halo orbit (~1 million miles from Earth)
- Payloads: NASA IMAP (heliosphere and particle acceleration), NASA Carruthers Geocorona Observatory (global exosphere imaging), NOAA SWFO‑L1 (operational space weather)
- Status: Launch targeted no earlier than Sept. 23, 2025; schedules remain subject to change
NASA notes that IMAP and Carruthers expand its heliophysics fleet, while SWFO‑L1 inaugurates NOAA’s next‑generation operational presence at L1 to minimize observational gaps. Additional mission and schedule updates are available via the agency’s announcement: Upcoming Launch to Boost NASA’s Study of Sun’s Influence Across Space.
