NASA has sent two new satellites into orbit to study magnetic explosions in space—events that occur when the Sun’s magnetic field interacts with Earth’s magnetic shield.
The mission, known as TRACERS (Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites), aims to help scientists understand space weather—the conditions in space that can affect Earth’s technology and astronauts.
Launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California on Wednesday morning, the twin satellites, each about the size of a washing machine, will investigate how the solar wind interacts with our planet’s magnetosphere.
The solar wind is a constant stream of electrically charged particles flowing out from the Sun. When these particles reach Earth, they can cause magnetic field lines around our planet to snap and reconnect, releasing bursts of energy in a process known as magnetic reconnection.
“Magnetic reconnection is like stretching a rubber band until it breaks and snaps back,” explained John Dorelli, the mission’s science lead at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. “Understanding this process helps us predict space weather events that can disrupt satellites and communications on Earth.”
By using two spacecraft working together, TRACERS will provide detailed observations of how these magnetic interactions develop and change over time.
“The mission demonstrates how multiple satellites can give us a 3D view of what’s happening in space,” said David Miles, the mission’s principal investigator at the University of Iowa.
The data collected could lead to better predictions of space weather, helping to protect satellites, astronauts, and even ground-based technologies like power grids from solar storms.
The launch also included several other satellites, adding to a busy day for space exploration.
“This mission is a big step forward in understanding the dynamic space environment around Earth,” added Dorelli.
