BAE Systems announced the successful launch of two spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, supporting critical NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) heliophysics missions.
The Carruthers Geocorona Observatory (NASA) and the Space Weather Follow On – L1 (SWFO-L1, NOAA) launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, beginning their journey to Lagrange Point 1 (L1)-an orbit approximately one million miles from Earth.
Advancing Understanding of the Sun and Space Weather
Both spacecraft, designed and built by BAE Systems, will equip scientists and forecasters with advanced tools to study the Sun’s activity and its effects on Earth.
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The Carruthers Geocorona Observatory will be the first heliophysics mission to explore how the Sun influences Earth’s exosphere-the outermost atmospheric layer-during both calm and active solar periods. The mission will examine the exosphere’s size, shape, density, and its responses to powerful solar storms.
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The SWFO-L1 observatory will monitor coronal mass ejections and measure solar wind, providing near real-time data. These insights will help deliver early warnings of space weather events that can disrupt satellites, communications, power grids, and critical infrastructure on Earth and in orbit.
Executive Perspective
“Through the launch of both the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and SWFO-L1 we will enhance our understanding of the Sun, the Earth’s exosphere and how space weather can impact our lives,” said Bonnie Patterson, vice president and general manager of Civil Space for BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems. “We are proud to support the missions of NASA and NOAA and the next generation science programs that these heliophysics observatories will enable.”
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A Proven Platform for Rapid, Reliable Missions
Both missions were built on BAE Systems’ heritage Evolve spacecraft platform, which features a common bus and standardized payload interfaces to reduce costs, minimize delivery timelines, and streamline integration. Each spacecraft underwent rigorous design, testing, and build phases using proven commercial best practices.
In addition to spacecraft development, BAE Systems trained the mission operations teams and will continue to support the operations of both observatories.
The Carruthers Geocorona Observatory is a collaborative mission with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where Dr. Lara Waldrop serves as principal investigator, alongside the University of California, Berkeley, and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
By combining innovation in spacecraft design with deep expertise in civil space, BAE Systems is helping NASA and NOAA push the boundaries of heliophysics research-from advancing scientific knowledge of the Sun–Earth connection to protecting the critical systems that modern society depends on.