NASA is targeting a launch on July 22 for its TRACERS mission, which will study the interaction between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere. The spacecraft, carrying three small satellites, will blast off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The TRACERS mission aims to better understand space weather patterns, which can impact power grids and communications satellites. To achieve this, NASA is launching the Athena EPIC SmallSat, Polylingual Experimental Terminal (PExT) technology demonstration, and Relativistic Electron Atmospheric Loss (REAL) CubeSat.
These payloads will focus on remote sensing, communication network navigation, and studying high-energy particles in the atmosphere. The REAL mission marks the first launch for New Hampshire as part of NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative, which provides access to space for educational institutions.
The TRACERS mission is led by David Miles at the University of Iowa, with support from the Southwest Research Institute and other partners. A successful launch would provide valuable insights into space weather patterns and their impact on our daily lives.
Source: https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/tracers/2025/07/18/nasas-tracers-mission-targeting-launch-on-july-22