SWFO-L1 Launch | NESDIS | National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
Source: https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news-events/swfo-l1-launch
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:28
SWFO-L1 Launch | NESDIS | National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
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SWFO-L1 Launch
NOAA’s SWFO-L1 Launch!
We Have Lift-Off!
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SWFO-L1 Press Release
SWFO-L1 Press Release
End Content for this slide.
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.
Note to screen-readers: This page is using an IFrame for the content-area, and you screen reader may not be abel to see it on this website.
For screen-reading purposes, please go directly to the IFrame's target page by going to
https://www.youtube.com/embed/O8AwI4zuhrA?si=9yl_2GswAwyCthOh?rel=1
.
Mission Overview
Mission Overview Link
End Content for this slide.
Road to Launch and Journey to L1
Timeline
January 2025
: Completed end-to-end testing
February 2025
: Began storage period
March - September 2025
: Mission rehearsals conducted
July 20, 2025
: SWFO-L1 observatory arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
September 17, 2025
:
Encapsulated in the rocket fairing
September 21, 2025
:
Rolled out to the launch pad
September 24, 2025
:
Launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
Separated from Space X Falcon 9
Acquired first signal
January 2026
: Arrival at Lagrange Point 1, nearly 1 million miles from Earth
Mid-2026
: Commissioning complete, transitioning from development and launch to observatory's operational phase
End Content for this slide.
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.
End Content for this slide.
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.
Download Infographic
Infographic. On the left, an orange sun has four titles arrayed near by: Solar Wind, Coronal Mass Ejection, Solar Flares, Energetic Particles. On the right, Earth sectors list communications, energy grid, aviation, navigation, emergency systems, and more.
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.
Download Infographic
Infographic. On the left, an orange sun has four titles arrayed near by: Solar Wind, Coronal Mass Ejection, Solar Flares, Energetic Particles. On the right, Earth sectors list communications, energy grid, aviation, navigation, emergency systems, and more.
End Content for this slide.
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 Instruments
Link to the SWFO-L1 Instruments page
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 Instruments
Link to the SWFO-L1 Instruments page
End Content for this slide.
Rideshare with 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 with 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.
End Content for this slide.
Meet SWFO-L1
Note to screen-readers: This page is using an IFrame for the content-area, and you screen reader may not be abel to see it on this website.
For screen-reading purposes, please go directly to the IFrame's target page by going to
https://www.youtube.com/embed/YgGUchjH83E?si=-jXqfoColHl4Roa3?rel=1
.
Meet SWFO-L1
Note to screen-readers: This page is using an IFrame for the content-area, and you screen reader may not be abel to see it on this website.
For screen-reading purposes, please go directly to the IFrame's target page by going to
https://www.youtube.com/embed/YgGUchjH83E?si=-jXqfoColHl4Roa3?rel=1
.
End Content for this slide.
News
image
Feature Story
NOAA's Space Weather Mission: Protecting Artemis II Astronauts and Society
Artemis II is planned as a 10-day crewed mission around the moon that marks humanity’s return to…
April 2, 2026
image
Announcement
SWFO-L1, Renamed SOLAR-1, Reaches Final Destination One Million Miles from Earth
On January 23, 2026, NOAA’s Space Weather Follow On – Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) observatory executed its…
January 27, 2026
View More
Office of Space Weather Observations
Resources
SWFO-L1 Observatory Flickr album
SWFO-L1 Press Kit
NOAA's SWFO-L1 Videos and Images - NASA SVS
SWFO Data Products and Science
NOAA Shares Imagery From World’s First Operational Space-based Coronagraph
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC)
View near-time images captured by NOAA’s CCOR-1
Skip to main content
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock
(
) or
https://
means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
SWFO-L1 Launch
NOAA’s SWFO-L1 Launch!
We Have Lift-Off!
Note to screen-readers: This page is using an IFrame for the content-area, and you screen reader may not be abel to see it on this website.
For screen-reading purposes, please go directly to the IFrame's target page by going to
https://www.youtube.com/embed/vNRrfamTT4k?si=JsWXXnokrCbDxW98?rel=1
.
SWFO-L1 Press Release
SWFO-L1 Press Release
End Content for this slide.
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.
Note to screen-readers: This page is using an IFrame for the content-area, and you screen reader may not be abel to see it on this website.
For screen-reading purposes, please go directly to the IFrame's target page by going to
https://www.youtube.com/embed/O8AwI4zuhrA?si=9yl_2GswAwyCthOh?rel=1
.
Mission Overview
Mission Overview Link
End Content for this slide.
Road to Launch and Journey to L1
Timeline
January 2025
: Completed end-to-end testing
February 2025
: Began storage period
March - September 2025
: Mission rehearsals conducted
July 20, 2025
: SWFO-L1 observatory arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
September 17, 2025
:
Encapsulated in the rocket fairing
September 21, 2025
:
Rolled out to the launch pad
September 24, 2025
:
Launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
Separated from Space X Falcon 9
Acquired first signal
January 2026
: Arrival at Lagrange Point 1, nearly 1 million miles from Earth
Mid-2026
: Commissioning complete, transitioning from development and launch to observatory's operational phase
End Content for this slide.
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.
End Content for this slide.
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.
Download Infographic
Infographic. On the left, an orange sun has four titles arrayed near by: Solar Wind, Coronal Mass Ejection, Solar Flares, Energetic Particles. On the right, Earth sectors list communications, energy grid, aviation, navigation, emergency systems, and more.
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.
Download Infographic
Infographic. On the left, an orange sun has four titles arrayed near by: Solar Wind, Coronal Mass Ejection, Solar Flares, Energetic Particles. On the right, Earth sectors list communications, energy grid, aviation, navigation, emergency systems, and more.
End Content for this slide.
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 Instruments
Link to the SWFO-L1 Instruments page
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 Instruments
Link to the SWFO-L1 Instruments page
End Content for this slide.
Rideshare with 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 with 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.
End Content for this slide.
Meet SWFO-L1
Note to screen-readers: This page is using an IFrame for the content-area, and you screen reader may not be abel to see it on this website.
For screen-reading purposes, please go directly to the IFrame's target page by going to
https://www.youtube.com/embed/YgGUchjH83E?si=-jXqfoColHl4Roa3?rel=1
.
Meet SWFO-L1
Note to screen-readers: This page is using an IFrame for the content-area, and you screen reader may not be abel to see it on this website.
For screen-reading purposes, please go directly to the IFrame's target page by going to
https://www.youtube.com/embed/YgGUchjH83E?si=-jXqfoColHl4Roa3?rel=1
.
End Content for this slide.
News
image
Feature Story
NOAA's Space Weather Mission: Protecting Artemis II Astronauts and Society
Artemis II is planned as a 10-day crewed mission around the moon that marks humanity’s return to…
April 2, 2026
image
Announcement
SWFO-L1, Renamed SOLAR-1, Reaches Final Destination One Million Miles from Earth
On January 23, 2026, NOAA’s Space Weather Follow On – Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) observatory executed its…
January 27, 2026
View More
Office of Space Weather Observations
Resources
SWFO-L1 Observatory Flickr album
SWFO-L1 Press Kit
NOAA's SWFO-L1 Videos and Images - NASA SVS
SWFO Data Products and Science
NOAA Shares Imagery From World’s First Operational Space-based Coronagraph
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC)
View near-time images captured by NOAA’s CCOR-1