NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission Celebrates One Year Anniversary

Summary: On March 12, the NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission celebrates the one year anniversary of the 2015 launch of its four identical spacecrafts.

Artist’s illustration of four identical observatories of the NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission in orbit within Earth's magnetic field: NASA, Public Domain, via NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

The NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission celebrates the anniversary of 2015’s launch of four identical, magnetic reconnection-studying spacecrafts on March 12.

The launch of the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission’s quartet of observational spacecraft Thursday, March 12, 2015, represents a pioneer endeavor dedicated to onsite study of the little understood process of magnetic reconnection in its environment in space, far away from the theoretical environment of computer models, scientific formulas and laboratory experiments. The mission aims for an orbit that allows passage through Earth's magnetic reconnection points.

The Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission’s first phase focuses on magnetic reconnection areas on Earth’s sun side. There the interplanetary magnetic field makes contact with Earth’s magnetic field. The phenomenon of magnetic reconnection transfers energy, momentum and particles from the interplanetary magnetic field to Earth’s magnetosphere.

The Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission’s second phase focuses on magnetic reconnection on Earth’s night side. As it extends in a direction away from the sun, the magnetosphere on the Earth’s night side assumes a narrow and elongated outline, known as the magnetotail. The magnetic reconnection that occurs on Earth’s sun side takes place on Earth’s night side in the magnetotail. Magnetic reconnection on Earth’s night side is credited with triggering auroras in Earth’s northern and southern hemispheres.

Magnetic reconnection on both the night and sun sides of Earth occurs in thinly layered sites. Although passage through the sites takes place in under a second, the spacecraft's four observatories have a total of 100 sensors that are designed to conduct measurements of electric and magnetic fields and of particle movements at extreme speed. The observatories’ Fast Plasma Investigation instrument gathers observations of the pressure, temperature and velocity of charged particles at the rate of 33 times per second.

The mysterious phenomenon of magnetic reconnection occurs as a fundamental process for the explosive release of energy by magnetic fields in space. Observable effects of magnetic reconnection include coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that the sun expels into space and that transfer their intensive energy to Earth’s magnetosphere, triggering extraordinary auroras and interfering with Earth’s communications systems.

Charged gases, called plasma, provide the environment for magnetic reconnection. Although rare on Earth, plasma comprises 99 percent of the visible universe. Magnetic fields trapped within plasma drives plasmas’ complex, unusual behaviors. Even slight variations in changing magnetic fields trigger activity in charged particles and reveal plasmas as constantly-reacting, sensitive systems.

Unknown tipping points cause magnetic field lines to cross and to trigger the release of gigantic bursts of energy via the mysterious process of magnetic reconnection. Magnetic reconnection converts a magnetic field’s stored energy into heat and kinetic energy that then stream outward along field lines.

Details gleaned from the dynamic connection and disconnection of magnetic fields around Earth is expected to yield insights into magnetic reconnection events elsewhere in space, such as in the atmosphere of stars, including Earth’s sun, as well as at the boundary between our solar system’s heliosphere and interstellar space.

artist's concept of the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission to study magnetic reconnection, process by which magnetic fields release energy: NASA @NASA via Twitter March 14, 2016

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

artist’s concept of four identical observatories of the NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission: Public Domain, via NASA @ http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/graphic-of-mms-in-orbit/#.V2BbwLsrLcs

artist's concept of the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission to study magnetic reconnection, process by which magnetic fields release energy: NASA @NASA via Twitter March 14, 2016, @ https://twitter.com/NASA/status/709406486464700417

For further information:

Fox, Karen C. “NASA’s MMS Celebrates a Year in Space.” NASA > Feature > Goddard Space Flight Center > Magnetospheric Multiscale. March 14, 2016.
Available @ http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/nasas-mms-celebrates-a-year-in-space

Fox, Karen C. “The Science of Magnetic Reconnection.” NASA > Goddard Space Flight Center. Dec. 9, 2014.
Available @ http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/science-of-magnetic-reconnection

“MMS Mission Overview.” NASA > Missions > Magnetospheric Multiscale.
Available @ https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mms/overview/index.html

NASA @NASA. "#OTD 2015, our #MMS spacecraft launched. Facts from its flawless first year: go.nasa.gov/22fTiVT @NASASunEarth." Twitter. March 14, 2016.
Available @ https://twitter.com/NASA/status/709406486464700417

NASA Goddard. "NASA / MMS Science Overview: The Many Mysteries of MMS." YouTube. Dec. 10, 2014.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd2d3pNS7nM

NASA.gov Video. "MMS Orbit Animation." YouTube. May 22, 2013.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MMcRw0x0Fg