Imperial’s magnetometer achieves first light on NASA’s IMAP mission

Imperial College London researchers are celebrating a huge milestone after their magnetometer instrument successfully recorded its first data in space aboard NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission

The achievement, known as “first light,” confirms that all instruments on the spacecraft are operating as planned and marks the beginning of IMAP’s scientific journey.

Launched in September 2025 from Cape Canaveral, IMAP is traveling toward its operational destination at Lagrange Point 1 (L1), a stable region of space approximately 1 million miles from Earth, in the direction of the Sun. From this vantage point, the spacecraft will be able to send data back to Earth within minutes, providing near real-time insight into conditions in space.

Mapping the solar system’s invisible shield

IMAP’s main focus is to study the heliosphere, which is a bubble formed by the solar wind that envelops the Solar System and shields it from much of the radiation originating beyond our galaxy.

By mapping this boundary and examining how it interacts with interstellar space, scientists hope to gain a deeper understanding of the forces that shape our cosmic environment.

The spacecraft carries ten specialised instruments designed to study particles, fields and energetic processes in space. Among them is the Magnetometer (MAG), developed by scientists and engineers at Imperial College London with support from the UK Space Agency.

A key role for Imperial’s magnetometer

The MAG instrument measures the interplanetary magnetic field surrounding the spacecraft. These magnetic fields guide the movement of charged particles from the Sun and play a central role in shaping the heliosphere. Understanding them is essential for improving predictions of space weather, which can disrupt satellites, navigation systems, power grids and astronaut safety.

MAG’s first measurements have already captured the magnetic signatures of shock waves created by the solar wind. These early results demonstrate that the instrument is performing precisely as intended in the harsh conditions of space, following the stresses of launch and transition into vacuum.

Early science with real-world impact

As IMAP travels toward L1, the spacecraft is already collecting preliminary science data. The magnetometer’s real-time measurements will contribute to space weather forecasting, helping scientists track solar disturbances, such as coronal mass ejections, as they approach Earth.

When combined with data from other IMAP instruments, including those measuring solar wind ions and energetic particles, MAG’s observations will allow researchers to study how charged particles are accelerated and transported across the Solar System. This integrated approach will refine models of solar wind behaviour and improve forecasts of potentially disruptive space weather events.

Imperial played a strong role in designing and building the magnetometer, drawing on decades of experience in space magnetometry. The project involved close collaboration with international partners, including teams at Princeton University and the University of Lancaster. UK involvement in IMAP has been supported by £4.2 million in funding from the UK Space Agency.

The successful operation of MAG continues Imperial’s long-standing contribution to major space missions, following its involvement in projects such as Solar Orbiter, JUICE and Cluster.

Looking ahead to full operations

IMAP is expected to arrive at Lagrange Point 1 in early 2026, where it will begin its full science mission. For Imperial researchers, the successful first-light measurements signal the start of an exciting phase of data analysis that promises new insights into the heliosphere, space weather, and the broader galactic environment.

The early success of the magnetometer highlights Imperial College London’s leadership in developing cutting-edge space instruments and its ongoing role in advancing our understanding of the space environment that surrounds and protects our planet.