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 RE)
- 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.
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