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Goddard Engineering and Technology Directorate

NASA’s Flight Dynamics Facility Delivers Critical Support for Back-to-Back Mission Launches

Artist depiction of the SWFO satellite in space with the Sun and Earth in view.
Artist depiction of the SWFO satellite in space with the Sun and Earth in view. Credit: NASA

In late September 2025, NASA’s Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) at Goddard Space Flight Center showcased its essential role in mission success by providing critical launch support for two major operations in rapid succession.

The FDF first supported the Falcon-9 launch carrying the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), Space Weather Follow On (SWFO), and Carruthers missions on September 24th, 2025. The facility ensured guaranteed Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS) acquisition over the Pacific Ocean, maintaining vital data and command links with the launch vehicle during orbit raising and spacecraft separation phases.

The FDF’s involvement extends well beyond launch day for SWFO. FDF support includes primary flight dynamics and navigation services for the mission for the first six months as the spacecraft journeys to the L1 Lagrange point and completes commissioning before operational handover to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Just 24 hours after SWFO’s launch, the FDF’s Flight Operations team supported a successful Atlas V/KA-03 launch. When trajectory monitoring revealed a discrepancy between planned and executed flight paths, the team quickly communicated the deviation to tracking network support elements and prepared to provide updated pointing information. After determining the off pointing had stabilized within acceptable parameters, the FDF resumed nominal operations.

These consecutive missions highlight the FDF’s multi-purpose value to NASA’s Science and Launch Capability while reinforcing strategic partnerships with NOAA. The facility’s rapid response capabilities and technical expertise continue to prove indispensable for complex space operations requiring precise coordination and real-time problem-solving.