Falcon 9 Block 5 | IMAP & others
September 24, 2025 at 11:30 AM UTC
MISSION
IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) is a NASA mission to study interactions between solar wind and the local interstellar medium. Carrying a suite of 10 scientific instruments, IMAP is able to investigate how particles are accelerated, determine their composition, as well as help to advance space weather forecasting models. The IMAP launch also includes the space weather satellite SWFO-L1 (Space Weather Follow-On - L1) for NOAA and the GLIDE (Global Lyman-alpha Imagers of the Dynamic Exosphere/Carruthers Geocorona Observatory) mission to study far ultraviolet emission in the Earth's exosphere.
OUTCOME
Falcon 9 Block 5 | IMAP & others completed its mission. The vehicle performed as expected and the payload reached its intended destination. SpaceX logged another successful flight in what has become a routine that was, not long ago, considered impossible to achieve at this pace.
The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).
VEHICLE
Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Block 5 variant is the fifth major interval aimed at improving upon the ability for rapid reusability.
If this mission lands back at the Cape or Vandenberg, find out if you are close enough to hear the double sonic boom.
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