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SWFO-L1

SWFO-L1 [NOAA]

SWFO-L1 (Space Weather Follow-On - L1) is a mission planned by NOAA to provide space weather measurement as a continuation of the DSCOVR mission.

The mission of SWFO-L1 is to establish an operational capability and continuity of space weather observational requirements.

The primary observational objectives are:

  • observe Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) parameters, shape density and velocity
  • produce CME characteristics for input into operational heliospheric propagation code
  • measure solar wind magnetic field, thermal plasma, and energetic particles
  • enable space waether watches, warnings, forecasting, and predictions

SWFO-L is to be built on a 3-axis stabilized ESPA class spacecraft. It is to be launched as a rideshare with NASA's IMAP probe in 2024. In June 2020, Ball Aerospace was selected to build the spacecraft.

Following instruments are planned to be on board:

  • Solar Wind Plasma Sensor (SWiPS) - provided by SwRI
  • Magnetometer (MAG)
  • Supra Thermal Ion Sensor (STIS)
  • Compact Coronagraph (CCOR) (Naval Research Laboratory)
  • and an optional contributed instrument
Nation: USA
Type / Application: Science, Solar
Operator: NOAA
Contractors: Ball Aerospace (prime)
Equipment: SWiPS, MAG, STIS, CCOR, ?
Configuration: BCP bus
Propulsion:
Power: Solar cells, batteries
Lifetime:
Mass:
Orbit: Sun-Earth Lagrange point L1 halo orbit
Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
SWFO-L1 - 2025 CC Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) with IMAP, GLIDE

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