Trio of space weather satellites blast off together to study Sun’s violent side

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with an Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe as its primary payload lifts off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Picture: John Raoux/AP

A cluster of space weather satellites has blasted off to cast fresh eyes on solar storms that can produce stunning auroras but also scramble communications and threaten astronauts in flight.

The three satellites soared from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida shortly after sunrise on the same SpaceX rocket.