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MAGNETOSPHERIC
MULTISCALE (MMS) MISSION
On May 3, 2005, NASA selected the Magnetospheric MultiScale
(MMS) Instrument Suite team led by Dr. James L. Burch of
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), San Antonio, TX, to
work with the MMS Project in the mission formulation phase.
More information on SwRI and their proposal and concept
study activities can be found at these websites:
+ Link to www.swri.edu
+ Link to MMS.space.swri.edu
Mission formulation activities will include refined mission
definition, spacecraft accommodation studies and detailed
planning necessary for developing the mission. The
Project will prepare for an Initial Confirmation Review in
the first quarter of 2006 where a determination will be made
that the Project is ready to proceed to the Preliminary Design
Phase.
The MMS Project is currently planning for a launch in 2014. An
updated schedule has been developed and is posted in the schedule section of this website.
MMS
MISSION OVERVIEW
How do small-scale processes control large-scale phenomenology,
such as magnetotail dynamics, plasma entry into the magnetosphere,
and substorm initiation? Similar processes and questions
arise in many other astrophysical plasma systems that are
far beyond the reach of spacecraft.
- What are the processes that permit and control the reconnection
of magnetic field lines across collisionless plasma boundaries?
- How do energy conversion processes accelerate particles
at these boundaries, and what role do parallel electric
fields play?
- How are electric currents, which connect distant regions
of the magnetosphere, generated, controlled, and disrupted
at boundaries?
- What is the importance and character of the coupling
across scales (micro-to mesoscales) in all of these processes?
- What is the spatial and temporal structure of collisionless
shocks?
MISSION
CAPABILITIES
- MMS will determine the small-scale basic plasma processes
which transport, accelerate and energize plasmas in thin
boundary and current layers – and which control the
structure and dynamics of the Earth's magnetosphere.
- MMS will for the first time measure the 3D structure
and dynamics of the key magnetospheric boundary regions,
from the subsolar magnetopause to the distant tail.
- MMS will pave the way for future Constellation-type missions.
MISSION
SUMMARY
- Broad regions of the magnetosphere are connected by fundamental
processes operating in thin boundary layers. Processes
of vastly different scale sizes can interact strongly.
- Understanding these fundamental processes requires multipoint
measurements that uniquely separate temporal and three-dimensional
spatial variations. Magnetospheric Multiscale gives us
this essential capability.
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