Earth Sun ID: 3605

Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) Dayside Orbit Animation for the Preliminary Design Review (PDR)

Visualizations by Greg Shirah Released on July 6, 2009

This visualization uses simulated ephemerides to show the proposed orbits of the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) during the "dayside magnetosheath/magnetopause" orbit phase. The movie initially shows the general orientation of the orbit with respect to the Earth, Moon, and Sun. It then zooms in to "ride" along with the spacecraft. We then zoom in even closer to show that there are actually four spacecraft flying in a tetrahedral formation. Finally, we see how the 4 spacecraft skim the magnetosheath such that, occasionally, some of the spacecraft are inside (e.g., MMS #1) and some are outside (e.g., MMS #2, #3, and #4) of the magnetosheath boundary.

This visualization was created in support of the MMS Preliminary Design Review (PDR) which was held May 4 - 7, 2009.

View from Earth's north (i.e., top down) showing the Moon's orbit, the magnetosheath, and the MMS dayside magnetosheath/magnetopause orbit

Another top down view showing how the MMS dayside magnetosheath/magnetopause orbit takes the spacecraft to the magnetosheath boundary (available with and without labels)

Close up of MMS tetrahedron skimming the magnetosheath - some of the spacecraft (e.g., MMS #1) are inside the boundary while others (e.g., MMS #2, #3, and #4) are outside

Visualization Credits

Greg Shirah (NASA/GSFC): Lead Animator
Tom Bridgman (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Animator
Ernie Wright (UMBC): Animator
Chris Smith (HTSI): Producer
Mark L. Adrian (NASA/GSFC): Scientist

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio The Blue Marble Next Generation data is courtesy of Reto Stockli (NASA/GSFC) and NASA's Earth Observatory.

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3605

Missions:
Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS)
Terra

Data Used:

Terra and Aqua/MODIS/Blue Marble: Next Generation also referred to as: BMNG

1/1/2004 - 12/31/2004

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/BlueMarble/

Credit:
The Blue Marble data is courtesy of Reto Stockli (NASA/GSFC).

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Hipparcos/Telescope/Tycho 2 Catalogue also referred to as: Tycho Catalogue

Database - November 1989 to March 1993

http://archive.eso.org/ASTROM/

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CPC (Climate Prediction Center) Cloud Composite

Data Compilation - Climate Prediction Center (CPC) - 2008/06/01

Global cloud cover from multiple satellites

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Simulated MMS Ephemeris

Ephemeris - 03/29/2015 - 04/04/2015

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Luhmann-Friesen Magnetosphere Model (1979)/Magnetic Field Lines (Luhmann-Friesen)

Model

Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 84, Aug. 1, 1979, p. 4405-4408

http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1979JGR....84.4405L

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Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.

Keywords:
SVS >> Earth
DLESE >> Geology
DLESE >> Geophysics
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Magnetic Fields
SVS >> Magnetosphere
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Solid Earth >> Geomagnetism >> Magnetic Field
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Spectral/Engineering >> Platform Characteristics >> Orbital Characteristics
GCMD >> Location >> Magnetosphere (other)
SVS >> Orbit
SVS >> For Educators
SVS >> Satellite Orbit
SVS >> MMS
NASA Science >> Earth
NASA Science >> Sun

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0