NASA has launched two satellites into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marking the beginning of a $170 million mission to study a space phenomenon that has long been elusive.
The TRACERS mission aims to measure plasma conditions in narrow regions of Earth’s magnetic field known as polar cusps. These areas play a crucial role in creating colorful auroras and geomagnetic storms, which can disrupt GPS navigation, radio communications, and satellite operations.
A recent extreme geomagnetic storm caused significant economic losses in the agriculture sector, resulting in over $500 million in damages. The launch of TRACERS is an effort to better understand this phenomenon and its impact on our daily lives.
NASA’s director of heliophysics division, Joe Westlake, emphasized the importance of understanding the Sun and its space weather effects on Earth. The mission will provide valuable insights into the complex interactions between the Sun, magnetic fields, and our planet.
The launch was initially delayed 24 hours due to a regional power outage that disrupted air traffic control near the launch site. Despite the setback, SpaceX successfully launched the satellites into orbit on Wednesday morning.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/07/spacex-launches-a-pair-of-nasa-satellites-to-probe-the-origins-of-space-weather