{"id":270490,"date":"2025-08-22T00:07:37","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T14:07:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?guid=e2e0e14dbbfedc10d7832d4dac9fca69"},"modified":"2025-08-22T00:07:37","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T14:07:37","slug":"nasa-invites-media-to-joint-launch-of-sun-space-weather-missions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=270490","title":{"rendered":"NASA Invites Media to Joint Launch of Sun, Space Weather Missions"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/imap-closeouts.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/imap-closeouts.jpg?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Technicians conduct blanket closeout work on NASA\u2019s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) observatory at the Astrotech Space Operations Facility near NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. The IMAP mission will explore and map the boundaries of the heliosphere \u2014 a huge bubble created by the Sun\u2019s wind that encapsulates our entire solar system \u2014 and study how the heliosphere interacts with the local galactic neighborhood beyond.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"eager\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/imap-closeouts.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/imap-closeouts.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/imap-closeouts.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/imap-closeouts.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/imap-closeouts.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/imap-closeouts.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/imap-closeouts.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/imap-closeouts.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/imap-closeouts.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Technicians conduct blanket closeout work on NASA\u2019s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) observatory at the Astrotech Space Operations Facility near NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. The IMAP mission will explore and map the boundaries of the heliosphere \u2014 a huge bubble created by the Sun\u2019s wind that encapsulates our entire solar system \u2014 and study how the heliosphere interacts with the local galactic neighborhood beyond.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Credit: NASA\/Kim Shiflett<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Media accreditation is open for the launch of three observatories that will study the Sun and enhance the ability to make accurate space weather forecasts, helping protect technology systems that affect life on Earth.<\/p>\n<p>NASA is targeting no earlier than Tuesday, Sept. 23, for the launch of the agency\u2019s IMAP (<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/imap\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe<\/a>), the <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/carruthers-geocorona-observatory\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Carruthers Geocorona Observatory<\/a>, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s (NOAA) Space Weather Follow On\u2013Lagrange 1 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nesdis.noaa.gov\/news-events\/swfo-l1-launch\" rel=\"noopener\">SWFO-L1<\/a>) observatory. The observatories will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.<\/p>\n<p>Accredited media will have the opportunity to participate in prelaunch briefings and interviews with key mission personnel prior to launch, as well as cover the launch. NASA will communicate additional details regarding the media event schedule as the launch date approaches.<\/p>\n<p>Media accreditation deadlines for the launch are as follows:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>International media without U.S. citizenship must apply by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 31.<\/li>\n<li>U.S. media and U.S. citizens representing international media organizations must apply by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All accreditation requests must be submitted online at:<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/media.ksc.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/media.ksc.nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n<p>NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/general\/nasa-agencywide-media-accreditation-policy\/\">media accreditation policy<\/a> is available online. For questions about accreditation, please email: <a href=\"mailto:ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov\">ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov<\/a>. For other mission questions, please contact the NASA Kennedy newsroom at 321-867-2468.<\/p>\n<p><em>Para obtener informaci\u00f3n en espa\u00f1ol en sobre el Centro Espacial Kennedy, comun\u00edquese con Antonia Jaramillo: 321-501-8425. Si desea solicitar entrevistas en espa\u00f1ol sobre IMAP, p\u00f3ngase en contacto con Mar\u00eda-Jos\u00e9 Vi\u00f1as:<\/em> <a href=\"mailto:maria-jose.vinasgarcia@nasa.gov\">maria-jose.vinasgarcia@nasa.gov<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/imap\/\" rel=\"noopener\">IMAP<\/a> will use 10 science instruments to study and map the heliosphere, a vast magnetic bubble surrounding the Sun protecting our solar system from radiation incoming from interstellar space. This mission and its two rideshares will orbit the Sun near Lagrange point 1, about one million miles from Earth, where it will scan the heliosphere, analyze the composition of charged particles, and investigate how those particles move through the solar system. This will provide information on how the Sun accelerates charged particles, filling in essential puzzle pieces to understand the space weather environment across the solar system. The IMAP spacecraft also will continuously monitor solar wind and cosmic radiation. Scientists can use this information to evaluate new and improved capabilities for space weather prediction tools and models, which are vital for the health of human space explorers and the longevity of technological systems, like satellites and power grids, that can affect life on Earth.<\/p>\n<p>The agency\u2019s Carruthers Geocorona Observatory is a small satellite set to study the exosphere, the outermost part of Earth&#8217;s atmosphere. Using ultraviolet cameras, it will monitor how space weather from the Sun impacts the exosphere, which plays a crucial role in protecting Earth from space weather events that can affect satellites, communications, and power lines. The exosphere, a cloud of neutral hydrogen extending to the Moon and possibly beyond, is created by the breakdown of water and methane by ultraviolet light from the Sun, and its glow, known as the geocorona, has been observed globally only four times before this mission.<\/p>\n<p>The SWFO-L1 mission, managed by NOAA and developed with NASA&#8217;s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and commercial partners, will use a suite of instruments to provide real-time measurements of solar wind, along with a compact coronagraph to detect coronal mass ejections from the Sun. The observatory, serving as an early warning beacon for potentially destructive space weather events, will enable faster and more accurate forecasts. Its 24\/7 data will support NOAA\u2019s Space Weather Prediction Center in protecting vital infrastructure, economic interests, and national security, both on Earth and in space.<\/p>\n<p>David McComas, professor, Princeton University, leads the IMAP mission with an international team of 25 partner institutions. The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, built the spacecraft and operates the mission. NASA\u2019s IMAP is the fifth mission in NASA\u2019s Solar Terrestrial Probes program portfolio. The Explorers and Heliophysics Project Division at NASA Goddard manages the program for the agency\u2019s Heliophysics Division of NASA\u2019s Science Mission Directorate.<\/p>\n<p>NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/kennedy\/launch-services-program\/\">Launch Services Program<\/a>, based at NASA Kennedy, manages the launch service for the mission.<\/p>\n<p>For more details about the IMAP mission and updates on launch preparations, visit:<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/imap\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/imap\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">-end-<\/p>\n<p>Abbey Interrante<br \/>Headquarters, Washington<br \/>301-201-0124<br \/><a href=\"mailto:abbey.a.interrante@nasa.gov\">abbey.a.interrante@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Sarah Frazier<br \/>Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.<br \/>202-853-7191<br \/><a href=\"mailto:sarah.frazier@nasa.gov\">sarah.frazier@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Leejay Lockhart<br \/>Kennedy Space Center, Fla.<br \/>321-747-8310<br \/><a href=\"mailto:leejay.lockhart@nasa.gov\">leejay.lockhart@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n<p>John Jones-Bateman<br \/>NOAA\u2019s Satellite and Information Service, Silver Spring, Md.<br \/>202-242-0929<br \/><a href=\"mailto:john.jones-bateman@noaa.gov\">john.jones-bateman@noaa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-x\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/tweet?via=NASA&#038;text=NASA%20Invites%20Media%20to%20Joint%20Launch%20of%20Sun%2C%20Space%20Weather%20Missions&#038;%23038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fnews-release%2Fnasa-invites-media-to-joint-launch-of-sun-space-weather-missions%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on X.\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"1200\" height=\"1227\" viewBox=\"0 0 1200 1227\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M714.163 519.284L1160.89 0H1055.03L667.137 450.887L357.328 0H0L468.492 681.821L0 1226.37H105.866L515.491 750.218L842.672 1226.37H1200L714.137 519.284H714.163ZM569.165 687.828L521.697 619.934L144.011 79.6944H306.615L611.412 515.685L658.88 583.579L1055.08 1150.3H892.476L569.165 687.854V687.828Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><br 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aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M4.98 3.5c0 1.381-1.11 2.5-2.48 2.5s-2.48-1.119-2.48-2.5c0-1.38 1.11-2.5 2.48-2.5s2.48 1.12 2.48 2.5zm.02 4.5h-5v16h5v-16zm7.982 0h-4.968v16h4.969v-8.399c0-4.67 6.029-5.052 6.029 0v8.399h4.988v-10.131c0-7.88-8.922-7.593-11.018-3.714v-2.155z\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-rss\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feed\/\" aria-label=\"Subscribe to RSS feed.\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 800 800\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M493 652H392c0-134-111-244-244-244V307c189 0 345 156 345 345zm71 0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"\/><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Aug 21, 2025<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Location<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\"><a class=\"hds-location-tag-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/nasa-headquarters\/\"><span class=\"hds-meta-heading\">NASA Headquarters<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"article-tags\">\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/imap\" rel=\"noopener\">IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe)<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/carruthers-geocorona-observatory\" rel=\"noopener\">Carruthers Geocorona Observatory (GLIDE)<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/goddard\/\">Goddard Space Flight Center<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/heliophysics\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Heliophysics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/heliophysics\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Heliophysics Division<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/kennedy-space-center\/\">Kennedy Space Center<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/launch-services-program\/\">Launch Services Program<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Science &amp; Research<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/about-us\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Science Mission Directorate<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/heliophysics\/focus-areas\/space-weather\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Space Weather<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Media accreditation is open for the launch of three observatories that will study the Sun and enhance the ability to make accurate space weather forecasts, helping protect technology systems that affect life on Earth. NASA is targeting no earlier than Tuesday, Sept. 23, for the launch of the agency\u2019s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe), [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17695,15614,15766,15877,16350,15717,15829,15597,15598,16344],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-270490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-carruthers-geocorona-observatory-glide","category-goddard-space-flight-center","category-heliophysics","category-heliophysics-division","category-imap-interstellar-mapping-and-acceleration-probe","category-kennedy-space-center","category-launch-services-program","category-science-research","category-science-mission-directorate","category-space-weather"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=270490"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270490\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":270535,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270490\/revisions\/270535"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=270490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=270490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=270490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}