SWFO-L1 Spacecraft Launch Scheduled for Tuesday, 23 Sep, Morning

SWFO-L1 is onboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket and is in final stages of preparation for the Tuesday morning launch. SWFO-L1 is a critical replacement for aged research solar wind and coronagraph observatories at the highly important Lagrange Point 1 (L1) orbital location. SWFO-L1 includes the latest technology and enhancements for more accurate solar wind measurements. Also, its included compact coronagraph will allow for more timely and better resolution observations of solar eruptions known as coronal mass ejections (CME) that can pound Earth and lead to intense geomagnetic storms that have the potential to affect many critical technologies we rely upon today - such as the electric power grid. NOAA's SWFO-L1 will be busy doing its part to safeguard society a million miles from home with its essential space weather observations that will be used by SWPC to help protect national critical infrastructure with actionable space weather observations, forecasts, and warnings.