Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe

Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe
	Artist concept of IMAP imaging the heliospheric boundary.
Names	IMAP
Mission type	Heliosphere research
Operator	Applied Physics Laboratory
Website	https://imap.princeton.edu/
Mission duration	3 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	Applied Physics Laboratory
Start of mission
Launch date	1 May 2025 (planned)
Rocket	Falcon 9 Block 5
Launch site	CCSFS, LC-40
Contractor	SpaceX
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Heliocentric orbit
Regime	Halo orbit (L1)
Instruments
	10 instruments
	Solar Terrestrial Probes program ← Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission

The Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) is a heliophysics mission that will simultaneously investigate two important and coupled science topics in the heliosphere: the acceleration of energetic particles and interaction of the solar wind with the local interstellar medium. These science topics are coupled because particles accelerated in the inner heliosphere play crucial roles in the outer heliospheric interaction. In 2018, NASA selected a team led by David J. McComas of Princeton University to implement the mission, which is currently planned to launch in late April to late May 2025.^[4]^[5] IMAP will be a Sun-tracking spin-stabilized satellite in orbit about the Sun–Earth L1 Lagrange point with a science payload of ten instruments. IMAP will also continuously broadcast real-time in-situ data that can be used for space weather prediction.

It is the fifth mission selected in the Solar Terrestrial Probes program, after TIMED, Hinode, STEREO and MMS.^[5]

^ "GAO-20-405, NASA: Assessments of Major Projects" (PDF). Government Accountability Office. 29 April 2020. p. 39. Retrieved 30 April 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ Cite error: The named reference May2025Launch was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for IMAP Mission" (Press release). NASA. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ "NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe Passes Key Decision Point-D". NASA. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ ^a ^b "NASA Selects Mission to Study Solar Wind Boundary of Outer Solar System". NASA. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[gao-apr2020-1] "GAO-20-405, NASA: Assessments of Major Projects" (PDF). Government Accountability Office. 29 April 2020. p. 39. Retrieved 30 April 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[May2025Launch-2] Cite error: The named reference May2025Launch was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[3] "NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for IMAP Mission" (Press release). NASA. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[Apr2025Launch-4] "NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe Passes Key Decision Point-D". NASA. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[NASA_selection-5] "NASA Selects Mission to Study Solar Wind Boundary of Outer Solar System". NASA. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

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