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Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1

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Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1
Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 satellite
NamesSWFO-L1
Mission typeSpace weather
OperatorNOAA
Start of mission
Launch dateMarch 31 2025
RocketFalcon 9 Block 5
Launch siteCape Canaveral,SLC-40
ContractorSpaceX
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeL1
Instruments
Solar Wind Instrument Suite (SWIS)
Magnetometer
Solar Wind Plasma Sensor (SWiPS)
Compact Coronagraph (CCOR)
Supra-Thermal Ion Sensor (STIS)
Space Weather Follow On program

Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1(SWFO-L1) is a future spacecraft mission planned to monitor signs ofsolar storms,which may pose harm to Earth'stelecommunicationnetwork. The spacecraft will be operated by theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), with launch scheduled for 31 March 2025.[1][2]It is planned to be placed at the Sun–EarthL1Lagrange point,a location between theEarthand theSun.This will allow SWFO-L1 to continuously watch thesolar windandenergetic particlesheading for Earth. SWFO-L1 is an ESPA Class Spacecraft, sized for launch on anEvolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Secondary Payload Adapter(ESPA) Grande ring in addition to the rocket's primary payload.[1]The spacecraft's Solar Wind Instrument Suite (SWIS) which includes three instruments will monitor solar wind, and the Compact Coronagraph (CCOR) will monitor the Sun's surroundings to imagecoronal mass ejection(CME).[1]A CME is a large outburst of plasma sent from the Sun towardsinterplanetary space.

Together withspace weatherobservation capabilities on the Earth-orbitingGOES-Usatellite, SWFO-L1 constitutes the space segment of NOAA's Space Weather Follow On (SWFO) program. The aim of the SWFO program is to ensure the robust continuity of space-based measurement of the critical space weather environment.[3][4]All of the spacecraft located inL1which are currently monitoring CMEs and the solar wind have operated beyond their design lifetime. TheAdvanced Composition Explorer(ACE) is expected to consume its remaining propellant around 2024.Deep Space Climate Observatory(DSCOVR), NOAA's primary solar wind monitor, was launched in 2015 with a five year design lifetime. TheEuropean Space Agency-NASASolar and Heliospheric Observatory(SOHO) will cease operation before the mid-2020s.[5]SWFO-L1'sSWIS instruments will replace ACE's and DSCOVR's monitoring of solar wind, energetic particles and theinterplanetary magnetic fieldwhile CCOR will replace SOHO'sLASCO(Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph) imaging of CMEs.[1]

Command and control system[edit]

NOAA has awarded, on 5 February 2021, the Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1)Command and controlcontract toL3HarrisinMelbourne, Florida.The contract has a total value of US$43.8 million, with a five-year performance period. The SWFO-L1 mission is planned to launch in 31 March 2025 as a rideshare with the NASAInterstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe(IMAP). The contractor is responsible for up to two years of operations support of a Command and control of the SWFO-L1 observatory. This will be accomplished by adding the capability to existingGeostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R Series Core Ground System.[6]

NOAA manages the contract. In addition to work at L3Harris' facility in Melbourne, the contractor will install equipment at the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility (NSOF) in Suitland, Maryland; NOAA's Wallops Command and Data Acquisition Station (WCDAS) inWallops,Virginia;and at NOAA's Consolidated Backup Facility (CBU) inFairmont, West Virginia.[6]

The work will allow SWFO-L1 to provide continuity of solar wind and coronal mass ejection imagery data from the Lagrange-1 point toNOAA's National Weather Service Space Weather Prediction CenterinBoulder, Colorado.These data are critical to support monitoring and timely forecasts of space weather events that have the potential to adversely impact elements vital to national security and economic prosperity, including telecommunication and navigation, satellite systems and the power grid. NOAA is responsible for overall implementation and funding of the SWFO program. The program is managed as an integrated NOAA-NASA program, where NASA serves as NOAA's acquisition agent for the space segment and for launch services. NOAA is responsible for the ground segment including the acquisition, development, test and integration of the SWFO Command and control system.[6]

Instruments[edit]

In April 2020,Southwest Research Institute(SwRI) was awarded a contract to supply SWFO-L1'smagnetometerinstrument.[7]

On 1 July 2020, on behalf of NOAA,NASAawarded the Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) Solar Wind Plasma Sensor (SWiPS) contract toSouthwest Research Institute(SwRI) inSan Antonio,Texas.SwRI was awarded a contract with a total value of US$15.6 million. The period of performance is 76 months. SWFO-L1 will provide NOAA with the continuity of solar wind data and coronal mass ejection imagery, the National Weather Service's highest priority for space weather observations. University of California, Berkeley was awarded US$7.5 million for the development of the Supra-Thermal Ion Sensor (STIS).[8]The SWFO-L1 satellite, which is planned to launch as a rideshare with the NASA Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), will collect upstream solar wind data and coronal imagery to support NOAA's mission to monitor and forecast space weather events. NOAA is responsible for the Space Weather Follow On program. NASA is the program's flight system procurement agent, and NASA'sGoddard Space Flight CenterinGreenbelt, Maryland,is the lead for this acquisition.[9]

Launch[edit]

Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 is planned to be launched as a secondary payload on theSpaceXFalcon 9launch vehiclecarryingNASA'sInterstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe(IMAP) spacecraft.[10][11]As of December 2020, the launch was scheduled for February 2025,[1][10][2]but has since been delayed to August 2025.[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdeUllman, Richard (26 June 2019)."NOAA's Current and Future Space Weather Observational Architecture"(PDF).Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology.Retrieved16 October2019.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  2. ^ab"NASA Confirms New SIMPLEx Mission Small Satellite to Blaze Trails Studying Lunar Surface".NASA. 2 December 2020.Retrieved4 December2020.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  3. ^Talaat, Elsayed (4 April 2019)."NOAA's Current and Future Space Weather Architecture"(PDF).Space Weather Prediction Center.Retrieved16 October2019.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  4. ^Onsager, Terry."NOAA's Space Weather Plans"(PDF).Space Weather Prediction Center.Retrieved16 October2019.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  5. ^Werner, Debra (6 March 2019)."Are small satellites the solution for space weather monitoring?".SpaceNews.Retrieved13 October2019.
  6. ^abc"NOAA awards SWFO Ground System Command and Control contract".NOAA. 5 February 2021.Retrieved6 February2021.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  7. ^"NOAA's Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 Magnetometer Awarded"(Press release). NOAA. 15 April 2020.Retrieved28 April2020.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  8. ^"NASA Awards NOAA's Space Weather Follow On – Supra Thermal Ion Sensor".NASA.Retrieved13 May2024.
  9. ^"NASA Awards NOAA's Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 Solar Wind Plasma Sensor".NOAA. 1 July 2020.Retrieved6 February2021.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  10. ^ab"NASA Selects Proposals to Further Study the Fundamental Nature of Space"(Press release). NASA. 13 August 2019.Retrieved9 October2019.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  11. ^"NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for IMAP Mission"(Press release). NASA. 25 September 2020.Retrieved25 September2020.Public DomainThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  12. ^"GAO Assessment of major projects"(PDF).gao.gov.June 2022. p. 105.Retrieved24 June2022.IMAP entered the implementation phase in July 2021 and established cost and schedule baselines of $781.8 million and march 2025, respectively. According to program documentation, the project is maintaining cost and schedule reserves within requirements.

External links[edit]

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