NASA has announced a delay in the launch of three missions focused on studying the sun. The launch, originally planned for spring 2025, is now pushed back to no earlier than September 2025. This affects the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), and two additional missions traveling as rideshares.
The agency cited the need for “additional time for IMAP flight systems preparations prior to launch” as the reason for the delay. An earlier preview from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center had vaguely mentioned a late 2025 launch for IMAP. The IMAP mission, which will operate from the Earth-sun L-1 Lagrange point, aims to study the heliosphere and the solar wind, offering insights into solar weather and its impact.
“IMAP is a mission that has two halves,” explained Joe Westlake, director of NASA’s heliophysics division. “The mission will explore the heliosphere and local solar neighborhood but also has a role ‘safeguarding humanity’ by monitoring solar weather.” This statement was made before the delay announcement.
The delay impacts two additional missions: the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory (formerly GLIDE), which will study Earth's exosphere; and Space Weather Follow-On (SWFO) L-1, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration mission for operational space weather forecasting. Both are set to utilize the same launch opportunity.
“With this mission, we’re leaning into the ability to take rideshares,” Westlake previously noted, highlighting the strategy to maximize scientific endeavors through shared launch opportunities. The original launch plan included other payloads, but the Solar Cruiser mission was terminated due to technical issues, and Lunar Trailblazer was moved to a different launch.
The IMAP launch, contracted to SpaceX in 2020, has faced multiple delays. A previous postponement in November 2023 shifted the launch from February to April or May 2025 to allow for addressing technical complexities. The current delay further underscores the challenges inherent in complex space missions.