By studying reconnection in this local, natural laboratory, MMS helps us understand reconnection elsewhere as well, such as in the atmosphere of the Sun and other stars, in the vicinity of black holes and neutron stars, and at the boundary between our solar system’s heliosphere and interstellar space.
MMS consists of four identical observatories that will provide the first three-dimensional view of magnetic reconnection. The four MMS observatories will fly through reconnection regions in a tight formation in well under a second, so key sensors on each spacecraft are designed to measure the space environment at rates faster than any previous mission.
For additional visuals regarding the MMS mission and science, please see our MMS Pre-launch Gallery.
Briefing participants include:
Jeff Newmark, interim director, Heliophysics Division
NASA Headquarters, Washington
Jim Burch, principal investigator, MMS instrument suite science team Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio
Roy Torbert, MMS FIELDS investigation lead University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire
Craig Pollock, lead co-investigator, MMS Fast Plasma Investigation Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
Paul Cassak, associate professor
West Virginia University, Morgantown