 Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 satellite | |
| Names | SWFO-L1 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Space weather |
| Operator | NOAA |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 24 September 2025, 11:30UTC |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| Launch site | Kennedy Space Center,LC-39A |
| Contractor | SpaceX |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | L1 |
| Instruments | |
| Solar Wind Instrument Suite (SWIS) Magnetometer Solar Wind Plasma Sensor (SWiPS) Compact Coronagraph (CCOR) Supra-Thermal Ion Sensor (STIS) | |
 Space Weather Follow On program ← DSCOVR | |
SWFO-L1 (SpaceWeatherFollowOn-Lagrange1) is a spacecraft mission to monitor signs ofsolar storms, which may pose harm to Earth'stelecommunication network. The spacecraft is operated by theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It is to be placed at the Sun–EarthL1Lagrange point, a location between theEarth and theSun. This allows SWFO-L1 to continuously watch thesolar wind andenergetic particles heading for Earth.[1] It was launched on September 24, 2025.[2]
The spacecraft's Solar Wind Instrument Suite (SWIS), which includes three instruments, monitors solar wind, and the Compact Coronagraph (CCOR) monitors the Sun's surroundings to imagecoronal mass ejection (CME).[3]
Together withspace weather observation capabilities on the Earth-orbitingGOES-U satellite, SWFO-L1 constitutes the space segment of NOAA's Space Weather Follow On (SWFO) program. The aim of the SWFO program is to ensure the robust continuity of space-based measurement of the critical space weather environment.[4][5] All of the spacecraft located inL1 which are currently monitoring CMEs and the solar wind have operated beyond their design lifetime. SWFO-L1's SWIS instruments will replace ACE's and DSCOVR's monitoring of solar wind, energetic particles and theinterplanetary magnetic field while CCOR will replace SOHO'sLASCO (Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph) imaging of CMEs.[3]
In April 2020,Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) was awarded a contract to supply SWFO-L1'smagnetometer instrument.[6] The magnetometer instrument sits on the long boom and has been developed at theInstitut für Weltraumforschung (Space Research Institute), Graz, Austria.[7]
On 1 July 2020, on behalf of NOAA,NASA awarded the SWFO-L1 Solar Wind Plasma Sensor (SWiPS) contract toSouthwest Research Institute (SwRI) inSan Antonio,Texas. SwRI was awarded a contract with a total value of US$15.6 million. The period of performance is 76 months. SWFO-L1 will provide NOAA with the continuity of solar wind data and coronal mass ejection imagery, the National Weather Service's highest priority for space weather observations. University of California, Berkeley was awarded US$7.5 million for the development of the Supra-Thermal Ion Sensor (STIS).[8] The SWFO-L1 satellite will collect upstream solar wind data and coronal imagery to support NOAA's mission to monitor and forecast space weather events. NOAA is responsible for the Space Weather Follow On program. NASA is the program's flight system procurement agent, and NASA'sGoddard Space Flight Center inGreenbelt, Maryland, is the lead for this acquisition.[9]
On 5 February 2021, NOAA awarded the SWFO-L1Command and control contract toL3Harris inMelbourne, Florida. The contract has a total value of US$43.8 million, with a five-year performance period. The SWFO-L1 mission is planned to launch as a rideshare with NASA'sInterstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP). The contractor is responsible for up to two years of operations support. This will be accomplished by adding the capability to the existingGeostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R Series Core Ground System.[10]
NOAA manages the contract. In addition to work atL3Harris' facility in Melbourne, the contractor will install equipment at the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility (NSOF) in Suitland, Maryland; NOAA's Wallops Command and Data Acquisition Station (WCDAS) inWallops,Virginia; and at NOAA's Consolidated Backup Facility (CBU) inFairmont, West Virginia.[10] The work will allow SWFO-L1 to provide continuity of solar wind and coronal mass ejection imagery data from the L1 point toNOAA's National Weather Service Space Weather Prediction Center inBoulder, Colorado. These data are critical to support monitoring and timely forecasts of space weather events that have the potential to adversely impact elements vital to national security and economic prosperity, including telecommunication and navigation, satellite systems and the power grid. NOAA is responsible for overall implementation and funding of the SWFO program. The program is managed as an integrated NOAA-NASA program, where NASA serves as NOAA's acquisition agent for the space segment and for launch services. NOAA is responsible for the ground segment including the acquisition, development, test and integration of the SWFO Command and control system.[10]
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SWFO-L1 is anESPA Class Spacecraft, sized for launch on anEvolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) Grande ring in addition to the rocket's primary payload.[3] It was launched as a secondary payload on theSpaceXFalcon 9launch vehicle carryingNASA'sInterstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) spacecraft on 24 September 2025, together with NASA'sCarruthers Geocorona Observatory as another rideshare mission.[1][11][12][2]
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