NASA spacecraft in Earth’s orbit, preparing to study magnetic reconnection
Friday, March 13, 2015 - 11:00
in Astronomy & Space
Following a successful launch at 10:44 p.m. EDT Thursday, NASA's four Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft are positioned in Earth's orbit to begin the first space mission dedicated to the study of a phenomenon called magnetic reconnection. This process is thought to be the catalyst for some of the most powerful explosions in our solar system.