Planetary science in the United States is reaching a pivotal moment this September as preparations are underway for the launch of several major missions that promise to deepen our understanding of the solar system and beyond. NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than September 2025 for the launch of the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe, called IMAP, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. IMAP will head to the first Earth Sun Lagrange point, known as L1, about one million miles from Earth, where it will work alongside two other spacecraft, the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and NOAA's Space Weather Follow On Lagrange 1 spacecraft. Collectively, these missions will investigate the boundary where the solar wind from our Sun meets the interstellar medium, providing scientists with crucial insight into the electromagnetic bubble—called the heliosphere—that shields Earth and the solar system from interstellar radiation. This research aims to clarify how charged particles streaming from the Sun interact with galactic forces, how they shape human exploration possibilities, and how they impact Earth and our technology, such as satellites and communications systems, particularly during solar storms. According to NASA, these findings will help protect both astronauts and the extensive network of satellites that support everything from navigation to weather forecasting.

Stateside, significant community mobilization has emerged in response to proposed federal budget cuts for NASA’s planetary science programs. In October, a coalition of sixteen space organizations will gather in Washington DC for a Day of Action to preserve funding for NASA science. This effort spotlights concerns that reductions could delay or cancel vital projects, potentially stalling progress made in planetary exploration and data collection. At the same time, new data releases in August from the NASA Planetary Data System include advanced shape models and assessment products from Saturn’s moons such as Dione, Mimas, Rhea, and Tethys, showcasing continued scientific output from archival missions and ongoing research into solar system bodies.

Looking ahead, the United States is positioning itself for a remarkable period in planetary science with upcoming events such as lunar eclipses visible across North America and launches of new spacecraft like NASA’s SPHEREx, Astrobotic’s Griffin Mission One lunar lander, and Intuitive Machines’ IM-3 mission. Globally, excitement is also building for the European Space Agency’s Space Rider spaceplane and continued Starship test flights by SpaceX. While tensions around funding and resource allocation remain prominent at home, the breadth and ambition of NASA’s planetary science agenda signal that the United States remains a leader in exploring the dynamic frontiers of space, with international collaboration and scientific discovery at its core.

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