Abbey Interrante
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Articles by Abbey Interrante
Heliophysics Science Objectives
Heliophysics Science Objectives Heliophysics Research Strategy: Bold Science in Action NASA’s heliophysics strategic objective is to understand the Sun and its interactions with Earth and the solar system, including space weather. This means that we are pursuing a strategic portfolio of fundamental research and applied sciences through research solicitations.
NASA’s IMAP Mission Releases New Data From 7 Science Instruments
Science data from NASA’s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) mission is now available. After its successful launch on Sept. 24, 2025, IMAP’s prime mission began a few months later, on Feb. 1. All 10 instruments on IMAP have been successfully collecting data. While data from three of the instruments are not yet ready for release, science data collected through April 30 by seven instruments can be accessed from NASA’s Space Physics Data Facility and imap.princeton.edu/data.
Strong Flare Erupts from Sun
The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 4:41 p.m. ET on July 4. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare — seen as the bright flash on the left — on July 4, 2026. The image shown here is from a wavelength of extreme ultraviolet light and is colorized in red, white, and blue, to highlight the extremely hot material in flares.
Strong Flare Erupts from Sun
The Sun emitted strong solar flare, peaking at 7:28 a.m. ET on June 3. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare — seen as the bright flash toward the upper right — on June 3, 2026. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in red. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy.
Sun Releases 2 Strong Solar Flares
The Sun emitted two strong solar flares, the first peaking at 9:07 p.m. ET on April 23. The second strong solar flare peaked at 4:13 a.m. ET on April 24. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured images of the events. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured these images of solar flares — seen as the bright flashes in the top right — on April 23 and 24, 2026.
NASA Shuts Off Instrument on Voyager 1 to Keep Spacecraft Operating
On April 17, engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California sent commands to shut down an instrument aboard Voyager 1 called the Low-energy Charged Particles experiment, or LECP. The nuclear-powered spacecraft is running low on power, and turning off the LECP is considered the best way to keep humanity’s first interstellar explorer going.
Strong Solar Flare Erupts from Sun
The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 11:19 p.m. EDT on March 29. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare — seen as the bright flash toward the bottom left — on March 29, 2026. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in gold. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy.
NASA’s Van Allen Probe A to Re-Enter Atmosphere
NASA’s Van Allen Probe Ais expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, almost 14 years after launch. From 2012 to 2019, the spacecraft and its twin, Van Allen Probe B, flew through the Van Allen belts, rings of charged particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field, to understand how particles were gained and lost. The belts shield Earth from cosmic radiation, solar storms, and the constantly streaming solar wind that are harmful to humans and can damage technology, so understanding them is important.
Image: Strong solar flare
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare — seen as the bright flash toward the upper middle — on Feb. 4, 2026. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in blue and red. Credit: NASA/SDO This Feb. 4, 2026, image from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captures a strong solar flare erupting from the star.
Strong Solar Flare
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare — seen as the bright flash toward the upper middle — on Feb. 4, 2026. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in blue and red. This Feb. 4, 2026, image from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captures a strong solar flare erupting from the star.
Sun Releases Strong Flare
The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 7:13 a.m. ET on Feb. 4. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare — seen as the bright flash toward the upper middle — on Feb. 4, 2026. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in blue and red. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy.
Sun Releases 4 Strong Solar Flares
The Sun emitted three strong solar flares on Feb. 1, peaking at 7:33 a.m. ET, 6:37 p.m. ET, and 7:36 p.m. ET. The Sun emitted a fourth strong solar flare on Feb. 2, peaking at 3:14 a.m. ET. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured images of the events. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured these images of the solar flares — seen as the bright flashes in the center of the images — on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2, 2026.
NASA’s Second ESCAPADE Spacecraft Completes Trajectory Maneuver
On Jan. 6, the mission operations team for NASA’s ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) successfully completed the second trajectory correction maneuver for one of the two spacecraft, after delaying the attempt in December 2025. The other spacecraft completed its first two maneuvers in December as originally planned.
Second ESCAPADE spacecraft completes key trajectory fix on path to Mars
by Abbey Interrante Washington DC (SPX) Jan 07, 2026 NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft are back on a fully synchronized path to Mars after mission controllers successfully carried out a critical trajectory correction maneuver for the second probe on Jan. 6. The burn followed a brief pause in December 2025, when engineers delayed the attempt to investigate low thrust seen during earlier correction efforts on one of the two small satellites.
Second ESCAPADE spacecraft completes key trajectory fix on path to Mars
by Abbey Interrante Washington DC (SPX) Jan 07, 2026 NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft are back on a fully synchronized path to Mars after mission controllers successfully carried out a critical trajectory correction maneuver for the second probe on Jan. 6. The burn followed a brief pause in December 2025, when engineers delayed the attempt to investigate low thrust seen during earlier correction efforts on one of the two small satellites.
NASA Wins Second Emmy Award for 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Broadcast Original
NASA’s broadcast of the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse has won an Emmy Award for Excellence in Production Technology. At the 76th Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards on Dec. 4, in New York City, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the win. Walt Lindblom and Sami Aziz accepted the award on behalf of the agency. For the broadcast, Lindblom served as the coordinating producer and Aziz served as the executive producer.
NASA Regains Contact with TRACERS Spacecraft, Continues Recovery Efforts
20 minutes ago NASA Regains Contact with TRACERS Spacecraft, Continues Recovery Efforts The mission operations team has regained contact with Space Vehicle 1 (SV1) and is working to recover the spacecraft and establish science operations. Updates will be provided on the TRACERS blog once more information is available.
NASA’s Webb Space Telescope Observes Interstellar Comet
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS Aug. 6, with its Near-Infrared Spectrograph instrument. The research team has been analyzing insights from Webb’s data, and a preprint is available online. Webb is one of NASA’s space telescopes observing this comet, together providing more information about its size, physical properties, and chemical makeup. For example, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and the recently launched SPHEREx mission have also observed the comet.
NASA’s TRACERS Continues Recovery Efforts for One Satellite - NASA Science
Teams for NASA’s TRACERS (Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites) mission, which launched on July 23, are continuing recovery efforts for one satellite, called Space Vehicle 1 (SV1). The other satellite, called Space Vehicle 2 (SV2), remains in good health and has started the commissioning process. An issue with the power subsystem on July 25 resulted in intermittent contacts and a loss of communication with SV1.
NASA Works to Contact Scalable Small Satellite
Following a successful launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, NASA’s Athena EPIC (Economical Payload Integration Cost) satellite was deployed on July 23. However, the small satellite has yet to send an expected beacon signal to help track its orbit. Mission partners are collaborating at the NovaWurks data operations center in California to link with the satellite on each orbital pass.
NASA Assessing One of Two Satellites Set to Study Magnetic Reconnection
After launch of NASA’s TRACERS (Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites) mission on July 23, the team successfully achieved telemetry lock and command functions with each of the two satellites. During the commissioning process, the team made routine adjustments to the power subsystem on both vehicles. While the adjustments achieved the desired results on one satellite, the other satellite requires further investigation by the team.
NASA’s TRACERS Mission Targeting Launch on July 22
NASA’s TRACERS (Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites) spacecraft are targeting launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket during a launch window that opens at 2:13 p.m. EDT (11:13 a.m. PDT) on Tuesday, July 22. The TRACERS mission and three NASA small satellites will launch from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
TRACERS Stories - NASA Science
1 min read 6 min read High above us, particles from the Sun hurtle toward Earth, colliding with the upper atmosphere and creating powerful explosions in a murky process called magnetic reconnection.
NASA’s PUNCH Just Snapped the Sun’s Secrets in Stunning New Detail
An artist’s concept shows the four satellites of NASA’s PUNCH mission observing the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona. Credit: Southwest Research Institute NASA’s new PUNCH mission just opened its eyes to space, capturing its first images of the Sun’s outer atmosphere and the surrounding solar system. With four satellites now fully activated, scientists are calibrating their instruments to peel away light pollution and unveil the delicate strands of solar wind as they drift through space.
NASA’s PUNCH Mission Captures First Images of Sun, Space
NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission successfully completed spacecraft commissioning this week, opening its instrument doors to capture “first light”, the mission’s first images of the Sun’s outer atmosphere and the surrounding space. This is the first step in revealing new details of how the solar atmosphere unfolds and streams through the solar system. Now, mission operation teams will continue the commissioning phase for the spacecraft’s instruments.
NASA’s PUNCH Begins Mission to Study Solar Wind
Mission controllers for NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) have received full acquisition of signal from the four small satellites, indicating that they are functioning normally and at full power. Over a two-year planned mission, PUNCH will make global, 3D observations of the Sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere, and how it becomes the solar wind.
NASA's PUNCH mission to revolutionize our view of solar wind
The Earth is immersed in material streaming from the sun. This stream, called the solar wind, is washing over our planet, causing breathtaking auroras, impacting satellites and astronauts in space, and even affecting ground-based infrastructure. NASA's PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission will be the first to image the sun's corona, or outer atmosphere, and solar wind together to better understand the sun, solar wind, and Earth as a single connected system.
NASA’s PUNCH Mission Nears Launch
Earth is immersed in material streaming from the Sun. This stream, called the solar wind, is washing over our planet, causing breathtaking auroras, impacting satellites and astronauts in space, and even affecting ground-based infrastructure. NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission will be the first to image the Sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere, and solar wind together to better understand the Sun, solar wind, and Earth as a single connected system.
IMAP Instrument Installations Complete
With the installation of a charged particle detector on Dec. 3, 2024, all 10 of NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) science instruments have been fully integrated on the spacecraft. Slated to launch no earlier than September 2025, IMAP will map the boundaries of the heliosphere — the protective bubble surrounding the Sun and planets that is inflated by the constant stream of particles from the Sun called the solar wind.
Darkness Unleashed: NASA’s Breakthrough Discoveries From the 2024 Solar Eclipse
The 2024 solar eclipse across North America spurred numerous NASA-supported research projects that observed the eclipse’s impact on the sun’s corona, Earth’s atmosphere, and radio communications. Significant data were gathered from ground-based telescopes, aircraft, amateur radio transmissions, and student-launched high-altitude balloons.
NASA's solar eclipse experiments yield intriguing early data
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse swept across North America, from the western shores of Mexico, through the United States, and into northeastern Canada. For the eclipse, NASA helped fund numerous research projects and called upon citizen scientists in support of NASA's goal to understand how our home planet is affected by the sun—including, for example, how our star interacts with Earth's atmosphere and affects radio communications. At a press briefing on Tuesday, Dec.
NASA’s PUNCH Mission Targeting Launch in Late February 2025
NASA and SpaceX are targeting late February 2025 for the launch of NASA’s PUNCH mission (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. PUNCH is a constellation of four small satellites heading to low Earth orbit that will make global, 3D observations of the Sun’s corona to learn how the mass and energy there become the solar wind.
Strong Solar Flare Erupts From Sun
The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 8:40 a.m. ET on Nov. 6, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. This flare is classified as an X2.3 class flare.
NASA’s CODEX Ready To Unlock Solar Wind Mysteries From the ISS
In this animation, the CODEX instrument can be seen mounted on the exterior of the International Space Station. Credit: CODEX Team/NASA NASA’s Coronal Diagnostic Experiment (CODEX) is set to launch to the International Space Station to explore new details about the solar wind, including its origins and evolution. Installed on the station’s exterior, CODEX will use advanced filtering to block out sunlight, allowing detailed observation of the Sun’s corona and solar wind.
NASA to launch innovative solar coronagraph to Space Station
The CODEX coronagraph is shown during optical alignment and assembly. For more CODEX imagery, visit https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14647. Credit: CODEX Team/NASA NASA’s Coronal Diagnostic Experiment (CODEX) is ready to launch to the International Space Station to reveal new details about the solar wind including its origin and its evolution. Launching in November 2024 aboard SpaceX’s 31st commercial resupply services mission, CODEX will be robotically installed on the exterior of the space station.
NASA to launch innovative solar coronagraph to Space Station
NASA to launch innovative solar coronagraph to Space Station by Abbey Interrante for GSFC News Greenbelt MD (SPX) Oct 31, 2024 NASA's Coronal Diagnostic Experiment (CODEX) is ready to launch to the International Space Station to reveal new details about the solar wind including its origin and its evolution. Launching in November 2024 aboard SpaceX's 31st commercial resupply services mission, CODEX will be robotically installed on the exterior of the space station.
NASA to launch solar coronagraph to Space Station
NASA's Coronal Diagnostic Experiment (CODEX) is ready to launch to the International Space Station to reveal new details about the solar wind including its origin and its evolution. Launching in November 2024 aboard SpaceX's 31st commercial resupply services mission, CODEX will be robotically installed on the exterior of the space station. As a solar coronagraph, CODEX will block out the bright light from the sun's surface to better see details in the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona.
Sun Releases Strong Solar Flare
The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 11:57 p.m. ET on Oct. 23, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. This flare is classified as an X3.3 class flare.
Space News: Sun reaches maximum phase in 11-year solar cycle
In a teleconference with reporters on Tuesday, representatives from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, and the international Solar Cycle Prediction Panel announced that the Sun has reached its solar maximum period, which could continue for the next year. The solar cycle is a natural cycle the Sun goes through as it transitions between low and high magnetic activity.
Sun reaches maximum phase in 11-Year Solar Cycle
Sun reaches maximum phase in 11-Year Solar Cycle by Abbey Interrante for GSFC News Greenbelt MD (SPX) Oct 16, 2024 In a teleconference with reporters on Tuesday, representatives from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the international Solar Cycle Prediction Panel announced that the Sun has reached its solar maximum period, which could continue for the next year.
NASA Confirms Solar Maximum: Brace for Massive Flares and Epic Geomagnetic Storms
Images from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory highlight the appearance of the Sun at solar minimum (left, December 2019) versus solar maximum (right, May 2024). These images are in the 171-angstrom wavelength of extreme ultraviolet light, which reveals the active regions on the Sun that are more common during solar maximum. Credit: NASA/SDO NASA and NOAA have declared the Sun’s solar maximum, noting increased sunspot activity and heightened solar events that influence Earth’s space weather.
Sun reaches maximum phase in 11-year solar cycle
In a teleconference with reporters on Tuesday, representatives from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the international Solar Cycle Prediction Panel announced that the sun has reached its solar maximum period, which could continue for the next year. The solar cycle is a natural cycle the sun goes through as it transitions between low and high magnetic activity.
NASA Scientific Visualization Studio | NASA, NOAA Announce That the Sun Has Reached the Solar Maximum Period
In a teleconference with reporters on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, representatives from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), and the Solar Cycle Prediction Panel announced the Sun has reached its solar maximum period. The solar cycle is the natural cycle of the Sun as it transitions between low and high activity.
Sun Releases Strong Solar Flare
The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 8:18 a.m. ET on Oct. 3, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. This flare is classified as an X9.0 flare.
Strong Solar Flare Erupts from Sun
The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 5:43 a.m. ET on Sept. 12, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. This flare is classified as an X1.3 flare.
Parker Solar Probe Lines Up for Final Venus Flyby
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe executed a short maneuver on Aug. 26 that kept the spacecraft on course for the mission’s seventh and final planned Venus flyby on Nov. 6. Operating on preprogrammed commands, Parker fired its small directional thrusters for about 17 seconds, changing its velocity by less than a mile per hour, and setting its trajectory some 386 miles (593 kilometers) closer to a targeted approach point about 240 miles (380 kilometers) above the Venusian surface.
TRACERS - NASA Science
TRACERS will help understand magnetic reconnection and its effects in Earth’s atmosphere. Magnetic reconnection occurs when activity from the Sun interacts with Earth’s magnetic field. By understanding this process, scientists will be able to better understand and prepare for impacts of solar activity on Earth.
NASA’s MUSE Mission Passes Key Milestone
NASA’s Multi-slit Solar Explorer (MUSE) mission — a spacecraft that will study the Sun’s atmosphere — passed a critical mission review on Aug. 21, 2024. The review, called Key Decision Point C, evaluated the mission’s preliminary design and program plan to achieve its target launch readiness date in 2027. With the successful review, MUSE now moves into Phase C, which includes the final design of the mission and fabrication of the spacecraft and instruments.
Sun Releases Strong Solar Flare
The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 4:37 a.m. ET on May 15, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. This flare is classified as an X3.4 flare.
Strong Solar Flare Erupts from Sun
The Sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 12:51 p.m. ET on May 14, 2024. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. This flare is classified as an X8.7 flare.
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