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MISSIONS

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In Formulation
   + MMS

MAGNETOSPHERE MULTISCALE MISSION CONCEPT

Above: Orbital Strategy – MMS employs two mission phases with an inclination of 28.5 deg. to optimize encounters with both dayside and nightside reconnection regions.

IMPLEMENTATION

• 4 identical spacecraft in a variably spaced tetrahedron ( 1 km to several R_E)
• 2 orbit phases, orbit adjust
• 2 year in-orbit (minimum) mission life
• Interspacecraft ranging and communication
• Advanced instrumentation, integrated payload
• Attitude knowledge < 0.1°, spin rate 3 rpm

MEASUREMENTS

• Magnetic and electric fields (100-m wire booms)
• Electron and ion plasma spectrometers, 3D distribution in 1/2 spin
• Energetic particles
• Plasma waves
• High temporal, spatial resolution
• Burst event recording

STATUS

MMS is currently in the preliminary design stage. Mission confirmation is targeted for July 2009. Launch is planned for 2014.