IMAP Launches to Study Space Weather

With a project that began in 2018 at Princeton University, the IMAP (Interstellar Mapping & Acceleration Probe) launched from Kennedy Space Center from the historic SLC 39A Launch Complex. Liftoff took place at 7:30 AM EDT.

In a statement from NASA about today’s launch: “This successful launch advances the space weather readiness of our nation to better protect our satellites, interplanetary missions, and space-faring astronauts from the dangers of space weather throughout the solar system,” said acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, “This insight will be critical as we prepare for future missions to the Moon and Mars in our endeavor to keep America first in space.”

IMAP transits the Sun shortly after launch:  Image Credit by Michael Seeley - We Report Space

Once in place, the 3 satellites will be roughly 932,000 miles from Earth in a region called L1 (Lagrange Point-1) The Lagrange Point is where a satellite can remain in position in relation to another larger body (i.e. earth, sun) by utilizing their centripetal & gravitational forces.

IMAP was designed to investigate and study the heliosphere an interstellar space area (think of a huge “bubble”) encompassing our galaxy including stars, neutron stars and black holes, the remnants of supernovas.

In an additional statement from NASA: “With IMAP, we’ll push forward the boundaries of knowledge and understanding of our place not only in the solar system, but our place in the galaxy as a whole,” said Patrick Koehn, IMAP program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “As humanity expands and explores beyond Earth, missions like IMAP will add new pieces of the space weather puzzle that fills the space between Parker Solar Probe at the Sun and the Voyagers beyond the heliopause (the boundary at the edge of the heliosphere).”

Continuing: “As the United States prepares to send humans back to the Moon and onward to Mars, NASA and NOAA are providing the ultimate interplanetary survival guide to support humanity’s epic journey along the way,” said Nicola Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Our scientific discoveries and technical innovations directly feed into our know-before-you-go roadmap to ensure a prepared, safe, and sustained human presence on other worlds.”

One of the critical studies that IMAP will learn is early radiation threats to protect Artemis astronauts as well as planned human travel to Mars.

In a statement from Princeton University: “The IMAP mission will provide very important information for deep space travel, where astronauts will be directly exposed to the dangers of the solar wind,” said David McComas, IMAP principal investigator at Princeton University.

Accompanying IMAP are 2 additional probes, the SWFO-L1, jointly built by NOAA & BAE Systems. It was designed to monitor solar storms via magnetometers, ion sensors and a solar wind plasma sensor. It will work in conjunction with IMAP by providing up to the minute accurate space weather forecasts protecting satellites, power grids, and communications

Closing out and complementing thee first two satellites is the Carruthers Observatory built by NASA & University of Illinois. Formerly known as GLIDE (Global Lyman-alpha Images of the Dynamic Exosphere) will survey ultraviolet light emitted by the Exosphere, earths outermost atmosphere layer. The Exosphere is a hydrogen intense atmosphere providing shield like capabilities during various solar activities.

These 3 satellites combined will deliver a triple layer “shield” to allow humans to travel further from earth, and being able to help maintain the advance technical systems on earth needed for space exploration.

A list of collaborators brought in the minds and talent of over 6 nations & 25 institutions.

Story by: Graham Smith – We Report Space

Images by: Graham Smith and Michael Seeley – We Report Space

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