Overview

• SpaceX’s Falcon 9 lifted off from Kennedy Space Center at 7:30 a.m. EDT on Sept. 24 carrying NASA’s IMAP and Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and NOAA’s SWFO‑L1.
• All three spacecraft deployed successfully and checked in with ground controllers, beginning their months‑long cruise to the Sun–Earth L1 point about 1.6 million kilometers from Earth.
• Arrival at L1 is expected in January, followed by instrument checkouts and the start of science and operational observations.
• IMAP will map the heliosphere’s boundaries and sample solar‑wind and high‑energy particles to reveal how the Sun accelerates particles and how interstellar particles enter the solar system.
• Carruthers will monitor Earth’s exosphere to track geocorona changes from solar storms and seasons, while NOAA’s SWFO‑L1 will provide continuous real‑time monitoring to enable earlier, more accurate space‑weather alerts that help protect satellites, power grids, GPS and astronauts.