NOAA’s SWFO-L1
24/7 Space Weather Observations
No Earlier Than September 2025
Mission Facts
Space Weather Follow On - Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) will keep a watchful eye on the sun and near-Earth environment for space weather activity, using a special solar telescope to monitor the sun's activity in addition to a suite of instruments to make real-time measurements of the solar wind.
The 24/7 data from SWFO-L1 will be transmitted to Earth in real time to give operators critical lead time to take precautionary actions that protect vital infrastructure, economic interests and national security both on Earth and in space.
Road to Launch and Journey to L1
Status
Fully assembled and mission-ready, SWFO-L1 awaits transport from the spacecraft vendor’s facility in Colorado to the launch site in Florida, where it will undergo final launch preparations before heading to orbit.
Timeline
- January 2025: Completed end-to-end testing
- February 2025: Began storage period
- March - September 2025: Mission rehearsals conducted
- July 2025: SWFO-L1 observatory arrives at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
- NET September 2025:
- Encapsulate observatory in the rocket fairing
- Roll out to launch pad
- Launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
- January 2026: Arrival at Lagrange Point 1, nearly 1 million miles from Earth
- March 2026: NASA hands over operations to NOAA, transitioning from development and launch to the observatory’s operational phase
Image Credit: BAE Systems
Road to Launch and Journey to L1
Status
Fully assembled and mission-ready, SWFO-L1 awaits transport from the spacecraft vendor’s facility in Colorado to the launch site in Florida, where it will undergo final launch preparations before heading to orbit.
Timeline
- January 2025: Completed end-to-end testing
- February 2025: Began storage period
- March - September 2025: Mission rehearsals conducted
- July 2025: SWFO-L1 observatory arrives at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
- NET September 2025:
- Encapsulate observatory in the rocket fairing
- Roll out to launch pad
- Launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
- January 2026: Arrival at Lagrange Point 1, nearly 1 million miles from Earth
- March 2026: NASA hands over operations to NOAA, transitioning from development and launch to the observatory’s operational phase
Image Credit: BAE Systems
An Early Warning Beacon
Located at Lagrange point 1, about a million miles from Earth, SWFO-L1 will continuously monitor solar wind disturbances and track Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) before they reach Earth.
By detecting solar storms in advance, the observatory will serve as an early warning beacon for potentially disruptive space weather events.
An Early Warning Beacon
Located at Lagrange point 1, about a million miles from Earth, SWFO-L1 will continuously monitor solar wind disturbances and track Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) before they reach Earth.
By detecting solar storms in advance, the observatory will serve as an early warning beacon for potentially disruptive space weather events.
Benefits
As an operational observatory, SWFO-L1 will deliver real-time data to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), enabling faster and more accurate forecasts, watches, and warnings. This critical information helps protect the nation's power grid, communication and navigation systems, and supports the safety of astronauts and space-based infrastructure. Key industries and assets vulnerable to space weather are listed in the graphic.
Benefits
As an operational observatory, SWFO-L1 will deliver real-time data to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), enabling faster and more accurate forecasts, watches, and warnings. This critical information helps protect the nation's power grid, communication and navigation systems, and supports the safety of astronauts and space-based infrastructure. Key industries and assets vulnerable to space weather are listed in the graphic.
SWFO-L1 is American Made
The spacecraft and instruments were built in collaboration with public and private sector entities to meet the needs of the mission.
- Observatory assembled and spacecraft built by BAE Systems in Boulder, CO
- Compact Coronagraph (CCOR-2) by U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC
- Solar Wind Plasma Sensor (SWiPS) by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio, TX
- SupraThermal Ion Sensor (STIS) by University of California in Berkeley, CA
- Magnetometer (MAG) by University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH and SwRI in San Antonio, TX
Image Credit: BAE Systems
SWFO-L1 is American Made
The spacecraft and instruments were built in collaboration with public and private sector entities to meet the needs of the mission.
- Observatory assembled and spacecraft built by BAE Systems in Boulder, CO
- Compact Coronagraph (CCOR-2) by U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC
- Solar Wind Plasma Sensor (SWiPS) by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio, TX
- SupraThermal Ion Sensor (STIS) by University of California in Berkeley, CA
- Magnetometer (MAG) by University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH and SwRI in San Antonio, TX
Image Credit: BAE Systems
Rideshare on NASA’s IMAP
SWFO-L1 is a critical operational mission that will launch as a secondary rideshare alongside NASA’s research missions: the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), which is the primary payload, and the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory. As a rideshare, SWFO-L1 is required to 'do no harm' to the primary mission.
This means it has been carefully designed to avoid any physical, technical, or operational interference with IMAP and does not influence the IMAP launch schedule. NOAA has fully aligned with NASA’s launch requirements and timeline to ensure seamless integration and mission success for all partners.
Rideshare on NASA’s IMAP
SWFO-L1 is a critical operational mission that will launch as a secondary rideshare alongside NASA’s research missions: the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), which is the primary payload, and the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory. As a rideshare, SWFO-L1 is required to 'do no harm' to the primary mission.
This means it has been carefully designed to avoid any physical, technical, or operational interference with IMAP and does not influence the IMAP launch schedule. NOAA has fully aligned with NASA’s launch requirements and timeline to ensure seamless integration and mission success for all partners.
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