NASA launches three new satellites as defense against solar storms threatening Earth
Published on Oct 13, 2025 at 5:26 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Oct 13, 2025 at 8:02 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
NASA launched three satellites to help provide crucial insights into solar storms, which can scramble communication systems on Earth and pose a threat to astronauts.
Solar storms can impact systems like GPS, radio channels, and the power grid.
High-speed particles from solar eruptions can also pose radiation risks to astronauts in space.
Late last month, NASA announced that a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket had blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center, carrying the IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe), Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, and NOAA’s SWFO-L1 (Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1) spacecraft onboard.
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NASA has launched a trio of satellites to better understand solar storms
Although they went up together, each satellite is on its own separate mission.
The IMAP will be first to be deployed and will be tasked with examining the outer limits of the heliosphere.
It will also be able to give a 30-minute advanced notice of upcoming solar systems, something that NASA says will be invaluable for astronauts on the Artemis mission, which will see humans sent to the Moon for the first time in decades.
NASA says it will be fully operational by the time its team of four astronauts is sent off to the Moon and back next year.
Meanwhile, the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory will be dedicated to recording changes in the outermost layer of our atmosphere, known as the exosphere.
Finally, the NOAA’s SWFO-L1 is a first-of-its-kind space weather observatory that will monitor the Sun’s activity and space conditions near Earth 24/7.
NASA says the launch, will help to provide vital information ahead of its upcoming manned-missions to the Moon and Mars.
“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,” acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said in a statement.
“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.”
The satellites are headed to a spot a million miles away from Earth
The trio of satellites has been sent to a sun-orbital lookout spot that’s about a million miles from Earth called Lagrange point 1 (L1).
NASA says they should arrive by January, and once they have carried out instrument checks and calibrations, they will be set to tackle their missions to ‘better understand space weather and protect humanity.’
“These three unique missions will help us get to know our Sun and its effects on Earth better than ever before,” NASA Headquarters director of Heliophysics Division Joe Westlake said.
“This knowledge is critical because the Sun’s activity directly impacts our daily lives, from power grids to GPS. These missions will help us ensure the safety and resilience of our interconnected world.”
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With a background in both local and national press in the UK, Claire moved to New Zealand before joining the editorial team at Supercar Blondie in May 2024. As a Senior Content Writer working on New Zealand Standard Time (NZST), Claire was the first writer on the team to make the site’s output a slick 24/7 operation covering the latest in automotive news.
