NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe, or IMAP, arrived at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center on March 18, 2025, to undergo testing prior to launch. At Marshall, IMAP will be exposed to extreme temperature changes during a 28-day-long test inside a thermal vacuum chamber. By simulating the harsh conditions in space, scientists and engineers can identify any potential issues before launch. Slated to launch no earlier than September 2025, IMAP will study the heliosphere — the giant m