NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) will study the heliosphere, the protective magnetic bubble surrounding our solar system. The mission will launch in May 2025.
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Mapping
Positioned 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, IMAP will analyze particles that pass through the heliosphere and map its boundary.
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Spacecraft assembly
The spacecraft is currently being assembled at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab in Maryland. All 10 of IMAP's instruments will soon be integrated.
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Testing
Final testing will occur at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center before the launch, which was delayed from April to May 2025 due to technical complexities.
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Tracking
There's a live, 24-hour feed on YouTube where you can track the mission's progress in real-time.