WASHINGTON, D.C. –
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) launched at 7:30 a.m. EDT on September 24 onboard the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) observatory from
NASA – Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida.
CCOR-2, designated as the primary instrument on SWFO-L1, represents a significant leap forward in coronagraph technology, offering enhanced capabilities compared to its predecessor and ensuring continuous, reliable space weather monitoring. Upon reaching final orbit, SWFO-L1 will be renamed Space weather Observations at L1 to Advance Readiness (SOLAR)-1, signifying its role in providing critical space weather observations.
This instrument will provide data to enhance forecasting capabilities, advance our understanding of the complex dynamics of the solar corona, and significantly improve the nation's ability to forecast and understand disruptive space weather events.
The SWFO-L1 Mission
SWFO-L1 is the first NOAA observatory designed specifically for and fully dedicated to continuous, operational space weather observations. This deep-space mission will operate in a Lissajous orbit at the Sun-Earth Lagrange 1 (L1) point, allowing for unobstructed observation of the Sun’s corona and enabling upstream measurements of solar wind disturbances before they reach Earth. The satellite will be the first line of defense and serve as an early warning beacon for geomagnetic storms.
The Office of Projects Planning and Analysis at NOAA funded NRL to develop, build and test the CCOR series of operational solar coronagraphs.
CCOR-2 is a specialized instrument designed to observe the Sun's outer atmosphere, the solar corona. Utilizing a unique approach, CCOR-2 employs a single external occulter, a cylindrical device that blocks the direct sunlight, creating an artificial eclipse. This allows the telescope to exclusively focus on the faint details of the corona.
CCOR-2 builds upon the success of
NRL's CCOR-1, currently operational on NOAA's GOES-19 satellite in geostationary orbit. CCOR-2 offers several key enhancements. While CCOR-1, with its geostationary vantage point, experiences daily eclipses as the Earth passes between the satellite and the Sun, CCOR-2 will reside at Lagrange Point 1 (L1), providing a continuous, 24/7 view of the Sun. This L1 location, coupled with a slightly larger field of view and the ability to observe closer to the solar surface, allows CCOR-2 to capture slightly more images and more rapidly detect Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) closer to the solar disk, while capturing images every 15 minutes as does CCOR-1.
"CCOR-2's design focuses on high-fidelity coronal imaging, minimizing stray light to maximize contrast and enable accurate measurements of coronal density and velocity," said Arnaud Thernisien, Ph.D., NRL research physicist from the Advanced Sensor Technology Section within the Space Science Division. "By isolating the corona, we can directly observe the evolution of structures such as Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and track their propagation through the heliosphere."
The primary objective of CCOR-2 is to monitor CMEs, the massive expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun’s corona. The CCOR series will detect CMEs, determine their trajectory, mass, and speed, with the goal of predicting any geo-effective impact at Earth.
Impacts of Space Weather on Earth
Thernisien explained that CMEs are the primary drivers of geomagnetic storms, which are characterized by significant disturbances in Earth's magnetosphere resulting from the efficient transfer of energy from the solar wind.
Geomagnetic storms are triggered by sustained periods of high-speed solar wind coupled with a southward-directed interplanetary magnetic field component, which facilitates magnetic reconnection and energy transfer at Earth's magnetopause.
"Geomagnetic storms are a manifestation of the dynamic interaction between the solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere," said Damien Chua, Ph.D., NRL research physicist from the Advanced Sensor Technology Section within the Space Science Division. "Understanding the initiation and propagation of CMEs, and their subsequent impact on the Earth's magnetosphere, is crucial for predicting and mitigating the adverse effects of space weather."
The repercussions of geomagnetic storms can range from temporary operational anomalies to significant infrastructure damage. These disturbances can disrupt satellite communications and navigation systems, induce geomagnetically induced currents in power grids, impacting their stability and reliability, increase atmospheric drag on low-Earth orbit satellites, potentially shortening their operational lifetimes, and interfere with high-frequency radio communications.
"The ability to accurately forecast the arrival and intensity of CMEs is critical for protecting vulnerable assets in space and on the ground," stated Timothy Babich, NRL engineer and project manager from the Power Systems and Instrumentation Section within the Spacecraft Engineering Division. "CCOR-2 provides crucial data to improve space weather models and enhance our predictive capabilities."
While CMEs typically require several days to transit from the Sun to Earth, the most energetic events have been observed to arrive in as little as 18 hours. Therefore, timely and accurate observations from instruments like CCOR-2 are essential.
A Long History of Space Weather Monitoring
The significance of CCOR-2 is further underscored by the age of current space weather monitoring assets. LASCO, the coronagraph currently used by NOAA aboard the SOHO spacecraft at L1, is almost 30 years old. CCOR-2 represents a modern replacement, offering enhanced performance and reliability.
Data from SWFO-L1 will be processed by NOAA’s
Space Weather Prediction Center. Archived data will be available from the
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service’s National Center for Environmental Information.
The launch of CCOR-2 aboard SWFO-L1 represents a significant step forward in our ability to forecast and prepare for the impacts of space weather, bolstering the resilience of critical infrastructure and safeguarding national security interests. SWFO-L1 will be launched as a rideshare with NASA’s
Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) and the
Carruthers Geocorona Observatory missions.
The CCOR design has also been adapted for the NOAA-hosted instrument to fly on the European Space Agency’s Vigil mission, expected to launch in 2031.
About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
NRL is a scientific and engineering command dedicated to research that drives innovative advances for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from the seafloor to space and in the information domain. NRL, located in Washington, D.C. with major field sites in Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Key West, Florida; Monterey, California, and employs approximately 3,000 civilian scientists, engineers and support personnel.
For more information, contact NRL Corporate Communications at (202) 480-3746 or
nrlpao@us.navy.mil
###