Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission

Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission
Artist depiction of MMS spacecraft
NamesMMS
Mission typeMagnetosphere research
OperatorNASA
COSPAR ID2015-011A, 2015-011B, 2015-011C, 2015-011D
SATCAT no.40482, 40483, 40484, 40485
WebsiteMMS [1]
Mission durationPlanned: 2 years
Elapsed: 9 years, 4 months, 13 days
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerGoddard Space Flight Center
Launch mass1,360 kg (3,000 lb)
DimensionsStowed: 3.5 × 1.2 m (11.5 × 3.9 ft)
Deployed: 112 × 29 m (367 × 95 ft)
Power318 watts
Start of mission
Launch date13 March 2015, 02:44 UTC
RocketAtlas V 421 (AV-053)
Launch siteCape Canaveral, SLC-41
ContractorUnited Launch Alliance
Entered serviceSeptember 2015
End of mission
Last contact2040 (planned)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeHighly elliptical orbit
Perigee altitude2,550 km (1,580 mi)
Apogee altitudeDay phase: 70,080 km (43,550 mi)
Night phase: 152,900 km (95,000 mi)
Inclination28.0°
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The Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) Mission is a NASA robotic space mission to study the Earth's magnetosphere, using four identical spacecraft flying in a tetrahedral formation.[1] The spacecraft were launched on 13 March 2015 at 02:44 UTC.[2] The mission is designed to gather information about the microphysics of magnetic reconnection, energetic particle acceleration, and turbulence⁠ — processes that occur in many astrophysical plasmas.[3] As of March 2020, the MMS spacecraft has enough fuel to remain operational until 2040.[4]

  1. ^ "MMS Spacecraft & Instruments". NASA. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "MMS Launch". NASA. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ Lewis, W. S. "MMS-SMART: Quick Facts". Southwest Research Institute. Archived from the original on 9 September 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  4. ^ Johnson-Groh, Mara (12 March 2020). "NASA's MMS Marks its 5th Year Breaking Records in Space". NASA. Retrieved 12 March 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

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