Core Points - NASA and NOAA launched three space probes to study solar wind and space weather effects on Earth and the solar system [1] - The probes include NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), the Karelian Coronagraph Observatory, and NOAA's Space Weather Follow-On satellite SWFO-L1 [1] - The launch occurred on September 24, 2023, at 7:30 AM ET from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, targeting the first Lagrange point, approximately 1.6 million kilometers from Earth [1] - The missions aim to enhance understanding of solar impacts on Earth's habitability, map the solar system's spatial distribution, and improve responses to space weather threats [1] IMAP Mission - IMAP will focus on studying the solar wind boundary region and its interactions with nearby galaxies, while monitoring solar wind and high-energy particles in real-time [1] - Data from IMAP will aid in simulating and improving predictions of space weather impacts, helping to prevent issues like power grid failures and satellite malfunctions caused by solar storms [1] Karelian Coronagraph Observatory - The Karelian Coronagraph Observatory is a small satellite named after American space physicist George Karelian, designed to continuously observe the Earth's outer atmosphere, specifically the exosphere [2] - It will analyze the exosphere's shape, extent, density, and temporal changes, contributing to a deeper understanding of its fundamental physical mechanisms and enhancing predictions of solar activity impacts on Earth [2] SWFO-L1 Satellite - SWFO-L1 is a NOAA satellite dedicated to space weather observation, providing real-time monitoring of solar activity and solar wind [2] - It aims to deliver real-time data and early warning information to prevent potentially destructive space weather events affecting Earth [2]

Core Points - The article discusses the launch of three space probes by NASA and NOAA to study solar wind and space weather impacts on Earth and the solar system [1][2] - The probes include the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), the Karelian Coronagraph Observatory, and the Space Weather Follow-On satellite (SWFO-L1) [1] - The mission aims to enhance understanding of solar influences on Earth's habitability and improve predictions of space weather effects on satellites and astronauts [1] Group 1 - The three probes were launched on September 24, 2023, from Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, heading to the first Lagrange point, approximately 1.6 million kilometers from Earth [1] - IMAP will focus on studying the solar wind boundary region and its interactions with nearby galaxies, providing real-time monitoring of solar wind and high-energy particles [1] - The data from IMAP will help simulate and improve predictions of space weather impacts, potentially preventing issues like power grid failures and satellite malfunctions caused by solar storms [1] Group 2 - The Karelian Coronagraph Observatory is a small satellite named after American astrophysicist George Karelian, which will continuously observe the Earth's outer atmosphere, the exosphere, to understand its physical mechanisms [2] - SWFO-L1 is dedicated to monitoring solar activity and solar wind, providing real-time data and alerts for potentially destructive space weather events affecting Earth [2]

Core Points - NASA and NOAA launched three space probes to study solar wind and space weather impacts on Earth and the solar system [1][2] - The probes include NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), the Karelian Coronagraph, and NOAA's Space Weather Follow-On satellite SWFO-L1 [1] - The launch occurred on September 24, 2023, at 7:30 AM ET from Kennedy Space Center, with the probes expected to reach the first Lagrange point in January 2024 [1] Group 1 - The IMAP mission will focus on studying the solar wind boundary region and its interactions with nearby galaxies, providing real-time monitoring of solar wind and high-energy particles [1] - Data from IMAP will enhance predictive capabilities regarding space weather impacts, helping to prevent issues like power grid failures and satellite malfunctions caused by solar storms [1] Group 2 - The Karelian Coronagraph is a small satellite named after American space physicist George Karelian, which will continuously observe the Earth's outer atmosphere, the exosphere, to understand its characteristics and changes over time [2] - The SWFO-L1 satellite will monitor solar activity and solar wind in real-time, providing critical data and early warning for potentially destructive space weather events affecting Earth [2]

Core Insights - NASA's Parker Solar Probe has captured the closest images of the Sun to date, providing unprecedented details of the solar corona and solar wind, which aids in understanding the origins of space weather and enhances Earth’s warning capabilities [1][2] Group 1: Mission Overview - The Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018 with the mission to study the Sun's outer atmosphere, the corona [1] - In December 2022, the probe flew within approximately 6.1 million kilometers of the Sun's surface, marking the first time a human-made object has entered the Sun's atmosphere [1] Group 2: Scientific Findings - The images captured reveal the structure of the solar corona and the release process of solar wind, which is a continuous flow of charged particles that affects the entire solar system [1] - The probe has provided high-resolution images of multiple coronal mass ejection (CME) events, showcasing their interactions and collisions for the first time [1][2] Group 3: Implications for Space Weather - The merging of multiple CMEs can significantly alter their trajectories and intensities, potentially accelerating charged particles and changing magnetic field structures, posing greater threats to astronauts, satellites, and ground-based technologies [2] - The close observations from the Parker Solar Probe enable researchers to better predict and respond to the effects of space weather [2]