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Carruthers Geocorona Observatory

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NASA Heliosphere Mapping Mission Rocket Vertical at the Pad

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with NASA’s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe), the agency’s Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Follow On–Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) spacecraft stands vertical at Launch Complex 39A as the sun rises on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
SpaceX

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying NASA’s heliosphere and space weather science missions inside the payload fairing, was raised to vertical on Sept. 22, at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 

NASA’s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) is the second flight of this booster. The first flight was KF-1, the Kuiper flight on July 16, 2025. IMAP will be the fifth science mission for NASA’s Launch Services Program to launch from Launch Complex 39A. 

NASA is targeting 7:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday, Sept. 24, for launch of the agency’s IMAP and Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Follow On – Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) spacecraft.  

NASA will provide launch coverage on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and more, beginning at 6:40 a.m. EDT on Wednesday. NASA’s Spanish launch coverage begins at 6:40 a.m. on NASA+, and the agency’s Spanish-language YouTube channel.  

Updates about mission milestones also will be posted on social media: 

X: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @NASASolarSystem, @NOAASatellies 

Facebook: NASA, NASA Kennedy, NASA Solar System, NOAA Satellites 

Instagram: @NASA, @NASAKennedy, @NASASolarSystem, @NOAASatellites