NASA's IMAP spacecraft getting packed up for launch | Space photo of the day for Sept. 24, 2025

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This spacecraft is one of three dedicated to studying solar wind and its effects on space weather. It launched today (Sept. 24)

A large metal cylinder covered with black plastic is stood between blue scaffolding.
NASA's IMAP spacecraft gets prepped for its launch. (Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett)

Recently, NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), along with the agency's Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and NOAA's Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-1) spacecraft, were encapsulated inside the payload fairing of their SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

These three spacecraft embarked on a shared ride to orbit early Wednesday morning (Sept. 24).

What is it?

While each spacecraft has a unique role, all three missions are united by a common theme: studying the solar wind, a continuous outflow of charged particles from the sun, and the effects of space weather throughout our solar system.

NASA's Carruthers Geocorona Observatory will study Earth's exosphere, also known as the geocorona, to hopefully give new insights into how our planet interacts with solar radiation.

In contrast, NOAA's SWFO-L1 probe will look at solar storms from Lagrange Point 1, a stable orbital location about 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) from Earth, giving critical early warnings about incoming space weather.

Where is it?

This photo was taken at the Astrotech Space Operations Facility near NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA's IMAP spacecraft is packed up for its SpaceX launch. (Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett)

Why is it amazing?

Unlike the other two spacecraft, NASA's IMAP will be looking farther from home, focusing on the boundary layer of our solar system and mapping and analyzing the interactions between the solar wind and interstellar space.

Space weather can disrupt GPS signals and communications satellites and even endanger astronauts in orbit aboard the International Space Station (ISS) or en route to the moon or Mars. So, understanding how to predict space weather and mitigate against it could have wide-ranging impacts on modern society.

Want to learn more?

You can read more about NASA's IMAP mission and the effects of space weather.

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry is the Content Manager at Space.com. Formerly, she was the Science Communicator at JILA, a physics research institute. Kenna is also a freelance science journalist. Her beats include quantum technology, AI, animal intelligence, corvids, and cephalopods.

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