Carruthers Geocorona Observatory Images
The Carruthers Geocorona Observatory is a SmallSat mission to Lagrange Point 1 (L1), where it will use an advanced ultraviolet imager to monitor Earth’s exosphere — the outermost layer of the atmosphere — and the exosphere’s response to solar-driven space weather. Carruthers is poised to become the first SmallSat to operate at L1 and the first to deliver continuous exospheric observations from this vantage point.
Led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than 2025 as a rideshare component of NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission, which will explore the boundaries of the heliosphere, the bubble that is inflated by the solar wind and surrounds the Sun and planets. The Carruthers Geocorona Observatory is a vital addition to NASA’s fleet of heliophysics satellites. NASA Heliophysics Division missions study a vast, interconnected system from the Sun to the space surrounding Earth and other planets to the farthest limits of the Sun’s constantly flowing streams of solar wind.
The Carruthers Geocorona Observatory ultraviolet spectrometer instrument awaits integration to the spacecraft at BAE Systems.
Credit: NASA/BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems
This photo shows the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory satellite bus after the ultraviolet (UV) spectrometer integration.
Credit: NASA/BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems
A BAE Systems technician inspects the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory satellite after the integration of the ultraviolet (UV) spectrometer onto the satellite bus.
Credit: NASA/BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems
The Carruthers Geocorona Observatory undergoing testing of the dust cover release mechanism on the instrument in a BAE Systems cleanroom in Boulder, Colorado.
Credit: NASA/BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems
A BAE Systems technician inspects the fully assembled Carruthers Geocorona Observatory satellite.
Credit: NASA/BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems
This photo shows the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory solar array panel, manufactured by Rocket Lab.
Credit: NASA/BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems
This photo shows the front of the fully assembled Carruthers Geocorona Observatory satellite.
Credit: NASA/BAE Systems Space & Mission System
A BAE Systems technician inspects the fully assembled Carruthers Geocorona Observatory satellite.
Credit: NASA/BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems
The fully assembled Carruthers Geocorona Observatory satellite, viewed from the back.
Credit: NASA/BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems
Artist Rendering
Illustration of the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory satellite leaving Earth.
Credit: NASA/BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems
Artist Rendering
Illustration of the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory satellite in space.
Credit: NASA/BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems
Artist Rendering
Illustration of the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory satellite orbiting at L1 (Lagrange Point 1).
Credit: NASA/BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems
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Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
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Producer
- Beth Anthony (eMITS)
Release date
This page was originally published on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 9:31 AM EDT.
Related
- ID: 14249
![Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.Image credits: U.S. Naval Research LaboratoryMusic credits: “Bright Life” Tristan Lewis Noon [PRS]](/vis/a010000/a014200/a014249/14249_CarruthersGeocoronaObservatoryRenaming_YouTube.00095_print.jpg)