NASA has launched its new mission, TRACERS, to study how Earth’s magnetic shield protects the planet from space weather effects. The twin spacecraft, carrying three small satellites with new technologies and scientific instruments, lifted off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The launch was successful, and mission controllers established communication with one of the TRACERS spacecraft just hours after its separation from the rocket. Over the next four weeks, the satellites will undergo commissioning to check their systems before embarking on their 12-month prime mission.
During this mission, scientists aim to answer key questions about magnetic reconnection, a process that shapes the impacts of solar activity and space weather on our daily lives. The TRACERS mission is an important step towards better understanding Earth’s magnetic shield and its role in protecting our planet.
Source: https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/tracers/2025/07/23/nasas-tracers-mission-launches-to-study-earths-magnetic-shield