NASA LAUNCHES TRACERS SATELLITES TO PROTECT EARTH FROM SPACE WEATHER
In a groundbreaking move to better understand and defend Earth from potentially dangerous space weather events, NASA has successfully launched the TRACERS mission—short for Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites. The twin spacecraft lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marking a major step in the U.S. space agency’s effort to protect satellites, power grids, and communication systems from solar storms.
TRACERS is designed to study a critical region of Earth’s magnetic field called the cusp, located near the magnetic poles. This is where charged particles from the Sun can penetrate the magnetosphere, triggering phenomena like the auroras—and, in more severe cases, geomagnetic storms that can disrupt GPS, disable satellites, and cause massive electrical blackouts on Earth.
Each of the two TRACERS satellites will fly in close formation and collect real-time data on magnetic reconnection—a process in which solar magnetic fields interact with Earth’s magnetic field, rapidly releasing energy and particles. Understanding how, when, and why this reconnection happens is central to predicting space weather events before they cause damage.
“The TRACERS mission is about more than science—it’s about protecting modern society,” said Nicola Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. “We depend on satellite-based technologies for everything from banking to air travel. This mission helps us get ahead of the next solar storm that could knock those systems offline.”
The launch is especially timely as the Sun nears the peak of its 11-year solar activity cycle, expected around 2025. During solar maximum, solar flares and coronal mass ejections become more frequent and intense, increasing the risk of geomagnetic storms on Earth. By studying the cusp and magnetic reconnection processes during this period, TRACERS will offer valuable insights at a time of heightened vulnerability.
Developed in partnership with the University of Iowa and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the mission uses relatively small and cost-effective spacecraft equipped with advanced instruments to measure electric and magnetic fields, plasma particles, and waves. The data collected will be shared with scientists worldwide and fed into predictive models used by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
Scientists compare TRACERS to a space-based weather station, but instead of monitoring clouds and wind, it tracks charged particles and magnetic fields. This is crucial for understanding how solar energy interacts with our planet’s protective shield and how we can mitigate the risks posed by these interactions.
The TRACERS satellites will operate in low-Earth orbit, passing through the cusp multiple times a day. Their tandem design allows scientists to distinguish between spatial and temporal changes in the magnetosphere—something that single-satellite missions cannot do.
With TRACERS now in orbit, NASA continues to lead global efforts in space weather forecasting and resilience. The mission marks a bold step toward a future where solar storms are less disruptive, giving humanity a better chance to adapt to the ever-changing space environment that surrounds our planet.