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IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe)

    Meet NASA’s Heliosphere Mapping Observatory

    A round-shaped spacecraft with black solar panels on top appears at the center of the image against a black background speckled with white stars.

    Liftoff remains on track for 7:30 a.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The U.S. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 95% chance of favorable weather during launch NASA’s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) is about the size of a hot tub and weighs 2,000 pounds, a […]

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    NASA Broadcast Begins for IMAP Mission

    The historic countdown clock outside the NASA News Center at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida counts down to launch of 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 on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025.

    Live broadcast coverage is underway for this morning’s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) mission and its two rideshares, NASA’s Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Weather remains 90% favorable with the […]

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    NASA, NOAA Observatories Set to Study Space Weather

    A spacecraft with a large solar panel floats in space with Earth visible in the background.

    In addition to NASA’s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe), two other spacecraft are on the launch pad today, ready for liftoff. The agency’s Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Follow On – Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) spacecraft will both contribute to increasing our understanding of space weather. The Carruthers […]

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    NASA’s IMAP Mission: Understanding Our Heliosphere

    A circular spacecraft floats in space with stars and dust visible in the background.

    NASA’s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) will help researchers better understand the boundary of the heliosphere, a vast magnetic bubble created by the Sun surrounding and protecting our solar system from harmful radiation across the galaxy. The heliosphere consists of the continual flow of energetic particles from the Sun, known as solar wind, as […]

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    Coverage Begins for Newest Space Weather Mission

    Image shows a SpaceX rocket at the launch pad carrying NASA's IMAP observatory, NASA's Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, and NOAA's SWFO-L1 satellite

    Online coverage is underway for this morning’s launch of NASA’s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe), Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Follow – On Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite. NASA’s IMAP will use 10 science instruments to study and map the heliosphere, a vast magnetic bubble surrounding the Sun […]

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    Milestones For NASA’s IMAP Launch

    There are several key milestones we will be tracking tomorrow morning during launch coverage of NASA’s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) observatory and its two rideshares, NASA’s Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Follow-On Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) spacecraft. Time Events (all times are approximate): -00:38:00      SpaceX Launch […]

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    Weather 90% Favorable for Space Weather Launch

    The U.S. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 90% chance of favorable weather during tomorrow’s launch of NASA’s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) mission. The primary weather concern is the cumulus cloud rule. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch NASA’s IMAP and its two rideshares no earlier than 7:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday, Sept. […]

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    NASA Heliosphere Mapping Mission Rocket Vertical at the Pad

    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 […]

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    NASA, SpaceX Now Targeting Sept. 24 for Space Weather Launch

    NASA insignia.

    NASA and SpaceX are now targeting 7:30 a.m. EDT, Wednesday Sept. 24 for the launch of NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) space weather missions on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to allow more time for the recovery assets to arrive […]

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