This week’s biggest headline from NASA is a major leap in our ability to monitor the Sun and defend Earth: NASA, in partnership with NOAA, is preparing to launch three groundbreaking spacecraft to the Earth-Sun Lagrange point. Set to lift off no earlier than September 23 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center, this trio—the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe, the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, and NOAA’s SWFO-L1—will provide 24/7 surveillance of solar activity nearly a million miles from our planet. Officials at NASA emphasize that this initiative will sharpen our forecasts for hazardous space weather events that threaten everything from satellites and power grids to communication networks. NASA heliophysicist Nicky Fox explained, “We’re entering a new era of solar observing that will help keep astronauts, airline crews, and critical infrastructure safe here on Earth.”

On the policy front, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate recently updated its 2025-2026 Science Plan. While the agency maintains a vision for scientific excellence and cross-cutting missions, new adjustments clarify funding thresholds, equipment grant rules, and ways researchers use spacecraft mission data. A revised FAQ addresses lingering questions for planetary scientists, and the agency is encouraging feedback on proposed changes.

These strides come amid turbulent budget waters. The White House’s latest proposal would slash NASA’s science program by 47%, risking the shutdown of 41 missions and the layoff of a third of NASA’s staff, according to The Planetary Society and budget trackers. Lawmakers are currently negotiating, but agency insiders warn of a holding pattern for non-critical missions and increased anxiety among NASA’s dedicated workforce.

For Americans, these changes have tangible impacts: better solar weather forecasts mean fewer disruptions to everyday services and tighter protection of vital infrastructure. For businesses, especially in telecommunications and aviation, real-time space weather alerts could be a game-changer. State and local governments stand to benefit from improved preparedness, while internationally, this data will assist allied agencies in protecting satellites and astronauts around the globe.

If you’re passionate about NASA’s exploration and science, advocacy groups are urging citizens to contact their representatives and make their voices heard as Congress debates the budget. For scientists eyeing new funding opportunities, the latest research solicitations, and FAQs are now live on NASA’s research portal.

Looking ahead, keep an eye on the Falcon 9’s big launch later this month and watch for further outreach from NASA as public comment periods open for new research directions. For more details, visit NASA’s main website or advocacy groups like The Planetary Society. As always, thank you for tuning in to our NASA news roundup—be sure to subscribe so you never miss an update. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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