Focus Areas for MMS
- Sun
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The study of solar variability & heliospheric disturbances seeks to understand the Sun, determine how predictable solar activity truly is, and develop the capability to forecast solar activity and the evolution of solar disturbances as they propagate to Earth. It focuses on both short-term and long-term variability. X-ray flares can immediately and severely degrade radio communications through ionospheric effects.
- Magnetospheres
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Determine changes in the Earth's magnetosphere, ionosphere, and upper atmosphere in order to enable specification, prediction, and mitigation of their effects. Heliophysics seeks to develop an understanding of the response of the near-Earth plasma regions to space weather. This complex, highly coupled system protects Earth from the worst solar disturbances while redistributing energy and mass throughout.