This photo provided by NASA in September 2025 shows NASA鈥檚 Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration鈥檚 (NOAA) Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (NASA via AP)
This image provided by NASA in September 2025 depicts from left, NASA鈥檚 Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration鈥檚 (NOAA) Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite. (NASA via AP)
A trio of space weather satellites blast off together to study the sun’s violent side
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) 鈥 A cluster of space weather satellites blasted off Wednesday morning to cast fresh eyes on solar storms that can produce stunning auroras but also scramble communications and threaten astronauts in flight.
This photo provided by NASA in September 2025 shows NASA鈥檚 Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration鈥檚 (NOAA) Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (NASA via AP)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) 鈥 A cluster of space weather satellites blasted off Wednesday morning to cast fresh eyes on solar storms that can produce stunning auroras but also scramble communications and threaten astronauts in flight.
The three satellites soared from Kennedy Space Center shortly after sunrise on the same SpaceX rocket. They aimed for a 1 million miles (1.6 million kilometers) from Earth, each on its own separate mission.
Altogether, the satellites from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, plus related costs, are worth about $1.6 billion. NASA’s Joe Westlake calls it 鈥渢he ultimate cosmic carpool鈥 by sharing a rocket to save money.
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Heading the lineup is NASA鈥檚 Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe, the first to be deployed. It will scrutinize the outer limits of the heliosphere, the protective, solar wind-driven bubble of gas around our solar system.
As a bonus, IMAP will be capable of providing advance notice of solar storms 鈥 a valuable 30-minute heads-up 鈥 for astronauts exploring the moon under NASA鈥檚 Artemis program. Officials expect the observatory to be fully operational by the time four astronauts fly around the moon and back next year.
NASA鈥檚 smaller Carruthers Geocorona Observatory also is flying, focusing on Earth鈥檚 outermost, glowing atmosphere that extends well beyond the moon. It鈥檚 named after the late scientist George Carruthers, who invented the ultraviolet telescope left on the moon by the Apollo 16 astronauts in 1972.
NOAA鈥檚 newest space weather observatory will be pushed into full-time, around-the-clock forecasting service. It will keep tab on the sun鈥檚 activity and measure the solar wind to help keep Earth safe from threatening flares.
Officials expect NASA’s satellites to be in position and operational by the beginning of next year, and NOAA’s spacecraft by spring.
NASA is kicking in more than $879 million for its two missions, while NOAA鈥檚 share is $693 million.
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While NASA already has a fleet of sun-observing spacecraft, science mission chief Nicky Fox said these newer missions offer more advanced instruments that will provide more sensitive measurements.
鈥淛ust being able to put all those together to give us a much, much better view of the sun,鈥 she said.
The goal is to better understand the sun in order to better protect Earth, according to officials. As spectacular as they are, the northern and southern lights will not be the missions’ focus.
During a preview of NASA鈥檚 upcoming Artemis mission around the moon, science officials said Tuesday that these new space weather missions will enhance forecasting and provide vital alerts if major solar activity strikes. If that happens, the four astronauts will take temporary shelter in a storage area under the capsule鈥檚 floor to avoid the heightened radiation levels.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute鈥檚 Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
