WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en

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MMS was designed to study a phenomenon
known as magnetic reconnection. Which is

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kind of a magnetic explosion space. You
can think of Earth as a giant bar magnet

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with magnetic lines of force emanating
out into space in a dipole pattern. Under

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just the right conditions energy in this
magnetic field is explosively converted

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into plasma energy creating spectacular
space weather phenomena like the aurora

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and magnetic storms. To catch these
explosions in action the MMS orbits were

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designed in two phases;
a day side phase and a night side phase.

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MMS is actually four identical
spacecraft flying in a geometrical

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formation known as a tetrahedron.
Scientists hope to catch the magnetic

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explosions somewhere inside this
tetrahedron. The Sun is constantly

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blowing out its atmosphere into space.
And this solar wind meets first magnetic

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field with the magnetopause. Here at the
magnetopause scientists expect to catch

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magnetic reconnection in action. So the
apogee of the orbit is designed so that

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the tetrahedron cuts across the boundary
twice per orbit following perfect

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formation. As it crosses the magnetopause
MMS will take high-speed snapshots of

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the magnetic explosions as they unfold.
MMS will complete its primary mission

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about two years after its launch but
scientists will be analyzing its data

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for many years to come.