NASA launches mission to study space weather

Three spacecraft were launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, built by private company SpaceX.

The United States has sent these three spacecraft into space in an effort to better monitor space weather, such as solar storms, which can interfere with technology and power systems on Earth.

Upon reaching space, the probes will begin their journey to the Lagrange Point 1 (L1) – a point approximately 1.5 million kilometers from the Sun, providing a stable observation location.

The Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) will use its instruments to study high-energy particles from the Sun and the protective bubble surrounding our solar system, known as the heliosphere. This data may provide insights into space weather and cosmic radiation.

Solar storms are highly energetic events caused by eruptions on the Sun’s surface. They are very difficult to predict.

These storms can affect activities on Earth, including aviation, mobile communications, and power grids, and can potentially put astronauts and satellites at risk.

The Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) spacecraft, operated by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), aims to provide early detection of space weather events.

“This can prevent an approaching threat, giving us time to prepare,” said Irene Parker from NOAA.

With early warning information about potential storms, authorities can shelter astronauts, alert pilots to possible GPS system disruptions, and prepare power grids for potential outages.

The third payload on the Falcon 9 rocket, the Carruthers Geocorona Observer, will study Earth’s exosphere in an effort to understand how space weather affects our planet.

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