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NASA goes with SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket for launch of space weather mission
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NASA has swapped out the launch vehicle for its SunRISE space weather mission, moving it from United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Vulcan Centaur to SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, according to a recent mission update. The decision marks another setback for Vulcan, which has been losing launches to competitors amid reliability concerns. SunRISE, a heliophysics study, aims to serve as an early warning system for incoming solar storms by tracking solar radio bursts.
The Sun Radio Interferometer Space Experiment (SunRISE) consists of six small satellites, each about the size of a mailbox, that will orbit 22,000 miles (35,000 kilometers) above Earth in a giant 10-mile (16-km) "X" formation. Acting as a single large radio telescope, they will monitor solar radio bursts, which travel faster than the energetic particles from solar storms and precede their arrival. The mission is led by the University of Michigan and managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The rocket change stems from anomalies in Vulcan's solid rocket boosters. During the USSF-87 launch, Vulcan experienced its second booster anomaly in four flights, prompting the U.S. Space Force to pause national security launches on the rocket until the issue is resolved. SunRISE will fly as part of a rideshare sponsored by the Space Force's Space Systems Command, though the specific mission is undisclosed.
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy is a heavy-lift rocket with three Falcon 9 cores capable of delivering up to 58,860 pounds (26,700 kg) to geostationary transfer orbit. It has flown 12 times since 2018, including four national security missions, with its most recent launch in April 2024. Its reliability contrasts with Vulcan's recent troubles, making it an attractive alternative for NASA and the Space Force.
Solar storms like the one in January 2024 can disrupt satellites, interfere with electronics, and pose radiation risks to astronauts and polar airline passengers. SunRISE will help improve prediction models for space weather, enabling better mitigation strategies. However, the mission itself will not issue alerts; instead, its data will refine models used by forecasters.
The switch underscores ULA's competitive challenges as it engineers fixes for Vulcan. For SpaceX, it adds another NASA mission to its growing manifest. Falcon Heavy's next launch is NASA's Nancy Roman Space Telescope, scheduled for no earlier than August 30, 2024. SunRISE's new launch date has not been announced, but it represents a critical step in protecting orbital infrastructure from the sun's fury.
