IMAP - Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe

04/01/2026

⁉️ Did you know that IMAP is alerting NASA Solar System Exploration and NASA Artemis crew members about space weather conditions during their trip around the Moon? ⁉️

IMAP's IALiRT system provides data from 5 instruments observing the passing solar wind and activity - SWE, CoDICE, SWAPI, HIT and MAG - to alert NASA mission operations on Earth and the Artemis crew about 30 minutes ahead of any solar weather events coming their way, giving them time to take safety precautions.

04/01/2026

⁉️ Did you know that IMAP is alerting NASA -and NASA Artemis crew members about space weather conditions during their trip around the Moon? ⁉️

IMAP's IALiRT system provides data from 5 instruments observing the passing solar wind and activity - SWE, CoDICE, SWAPI, HIT and MAG - to alert NASA mission operations on Earth and the Artemis crew about 30 minutes ahead of any solar weather events coming their way, giving them time to take safety precautions.

03/16/2026

👀 Watch it with UNH Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space - UNH EOS and the whole team! 👀

https://imap.princeton.edu/media-library/imap-documentary

03/09/2026

Princeton marked the start of IMAP's science mission with a panel discussion of IMAP leaders, science talks, and a reception on Thursday, Feb. 26, hosted by the Center on Science and Technology.

The Princeton-built SWAPI instrument was one of the first to turn on, which Jamie Rankin (SWAPI lead & astrophysics lecturer) described as “the real moment of truth, to see if it was all that we had envisioned it to be.” SWAPI began gathering science data soon afterward. “A couple days later, some large space weather activity passed by, and it was incredible,” she said, noting that SWAPI’s performance was “an order of magnitude better than we expected.”

Read more from the Princeton News Blog on IMAP's mission at the 🔗 in the first comment!

Photos by David Kelly Crow

03/08/2026

Happy International Women's Day from the women of IMAP! This team is full of incredible women around the world who make space science possible - let's celebrate their hard work, brilliance, and exemplary leadership 🌟💫🚀

How are you marking ?

03/07/2026

Thanks to Princeton University for sharing our IMAP celebration event and an insightful panel discussion from our PI & team.

Congrats to our team & affiliate institutions on a picture-perfect launch, arrival at LaGrange Point 1, and First Light Data! 💫🌟👏🏻

The Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe, a Princeton-led NASA mission to study the Sun and everything it touches, has officially begun its science mission: https://bit.ly/4rZtiQk

The mission will explore and map the heliosphere — the invisible cosmic shield surrounding our solar system — and to answer some great unknowns about how particles accelerate in the solar wind. The spacecraft, instruments and science preparation involved a team of institutions and major suppliers that spans 82 U.S. partners in 35 states, plus the United Kingdom, Poland, Switzerland, Germany and Japan, under the leadership of Princeton astrophysicist David McComas.

03/06/2026

Thanks to IMAP Space Instrument Engineer Ted Roemer and his student team, a Lego IMAP has been designed and created - we can't wait to build our own 🧱🚀💫

Last week at our IMAP celebration, Ted and others from our team shared their work on the spacecraft, related research, and 3D-printed designs. Lego IMAP will be available for everyone to download instructions and order the correct bricks to build yourself! Stay tuned for that link 🔗

For more IMAP joy, head over to the official Insta account and check out their new post on the mission!

Hey - check out our newest entry in the NASA Lego family! 🌞🌟🚀

03/03/2026

A night of IMAP celebrations! 💫🎊☀️

Last week, the community gathered for a celebration of IMAP's successful launch, first light data, and the amazing teamwork that goes into a mission of this scale. After an introduction from Jo Dunkley (Professor of Astrophysics & OBE🇬🇧) and virtual remarks from University President Eisgruber, the IMAP team took the stage with Peter Schiffer (Dean for Research; VP for the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory) moderating. Panelists included Dave McComas, our mission PI; Jamie Rankin, SWAPI instrument lead; Jamey Szalay, CAVA tool lead; and Joe Westlake, Director of 's Science Mission Directorate Heliophysics Division, all happy to talk about IMAP's journey, the importance of space science, and what's coming in 2026 & beyond. ✨

Students whose research centers on IMAP & astrophysics presented their work in the lobby, with 3D-printed and Lego models of IMAP on hand for interactive viewing. Great work by all!

In addition to discussing launch excitement and the power of teamwork, we premiered clips from the IMAP documentary! Stay tuned for more on that front soon 🎥

Thank you to everyone whose hard work made this evening possible - we appreciate you! 🙌🏻

02/20/2026

to Launch Week at and all our fabulous presentations! The IMAP team brought sun science and the heliosphere to their families, friends, students, & the general public with five days of outreach and science communication. 📣

Sci-comm is an essential part of NASA's mission to bring us together through the wonder of the cosmos. Many of us can remember the first time we learned about other planets, the Milky Way, and just how special life on spaceship Earth is - we're all on this incredible planet together. We hope you're staying curious on this February Friday and that you keep looking up 🌎🪐💫

02/17/2026

We've intercepted a transmission straight from Starfleet command! Kate Mulgrew, known best for her role as Star Trek: Voyager's Captain Janeway, was briefed on the success of the IMAP mission and extends her warm congratulations on this incredible milestone. 👏🏻👏🏻

Kate returned to Star Trek as Admiral & Hologram Janeway in the recent Star Trek: Prodigy, where her primary mission includes teaching a diverse group of kids about space science, the principles of Starfleet, and how to be a team player. If you want to teach your cadets about IMAP's mission to study solar wind and mapping the heliosphere, visit our IMAP Outreach Partner site or even plan your own event using our public resources, available at imap.connectedcommunity.org/home 🚀

Thank you to Kate for her continued support of space science and STEAM education! 🖖🏻🧡💫

02/11/2026

Today is the International Day of Women and Girls in STEM! Our IMAP team features many women in leadership roles whose hard work and dedication were instrumental in taking IMAP from idea through launch, and now to the start of IMAP's prime mission. We recognize and appreciate their importance in STEM fields today and every day!

According to UN studies, women are still underrepresented in STEM fields, and space science is no different. Encourage and support the women in your life - family, friends, colleagues - to keep pursuing their STEM dreams and build the resources and positive environments necessary to keep them engaged and feeling valued.

Here are just a few photos of some of the incredible women of IMAP in the lab, at launch activities, in their education and outreach efforts, and in executive leadership roles on this mission. Share this post and champion their excellent work!