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About the Mission:

The scientific goal of the MMS mission is to:

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Understand the microphysics of magnetic reconnection by determining the kinetic processes occurring in the electron diffusion region that are responsible for collisionless magnetic reconnection, especially how reconnection is initiated. 


Specifically, and in priority order, MMS addresses three main objectives:

  • Determine the role played by electron inertia and turbulent dissipation in driving magnetic reconnection in the electron diffusion region
  • Determine the rate of magnetic reconnection and the parameters that control it.
  • Determine the role played by ion inertial effects and turbulence in the physics of magnetic reconnection.

Our Senior Review 2020, extended these objectives to include:

  • Investigate magnetic reconnection in all near-Earth environments,
  • Determine the processes which heat plasma populations and accelerate particles to large energies,
  • Study the way turbulent processes interact on kinetic scales, and
  • Investigate the microphysics of collisionless shocks.

Our Senior Review 2023, refines these further for FY24-FY26:

  • Understand how reconnection works in the boundary regions of Geospace for a wide range of plasma conditions
  • Understand the processes that heat plasma populations and accelerate particles to large energies, especially their relationship to magnetic reconnection.
  • Determine the nature of kinetic-scale turbulence and its role in reconnection and particle acceleration
  • Investigate the kinetic physics of collisionless shocks for a wide range of Mach number 

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    MMS Leadership

    Role

    Name

    Institution

    MMS Science Principal Investigator

    Dr. James Burch

    SWRI

    MMS Science Deputy Principal InvestigatorDr. Kevin GenestretiUNH, SWRI

    MMS Program Scientist

    Dr. Galen Fowler

    NASA HQ

    MMS Project Scientist

    Dr. Barbara Giles

    NASA GSFC

    MMS Project Scientist, EmeritusDr. Thomas MooreNASA GSFC, retired

    MMS Deputy Project Scientist

    Dr. Guan Le

    NASA GSFC

    MMS Instrument Lead Co-Is:

    FIELDS Lead Co-I: Prof. R. B. Torbert, U New Hampshire

    • Fluxgate Magnetometers (FGM) Lead Co-I: Prof. C. T.  Russell, UCLA

    • Axial Double Probes (ADP) and Burst Data System Lead Co-I: Prof. R. E. Ergun, LASP/U. Colorado

    • Spin-plane Double Probes (SDP) Lead Co-I:  Dr. P.-A. Lindqvist, KTH Stockholm

    • Search Coil Magnetometer (SCM) Lead Co-I: Dr. O. Le Contel, LPP, France

    • Electron Drift Instrument (EDI) Lead Co-I: Dr. R. B. Torbert, U. New Hampshire

    Fast Plasma Investigation (FPI) Lead Co-I, Phase E: Dr. Daniel Gershman, NASA GSFC (2020)

    • (Fast Plasma Investigation Lead Co-I, Phase E: Dr. B. L. Giles, NASA GSFC (2015-2020)
    • (Fast Plasma Investigation Lead Co-I, Phase C-D: Dr. C. J. Pollock, NASA GSFC (retired)
    • (Fast Plasma Investigation Lead Co-I, Phase A-B: Dr. T. E. Moore, NASA GSFC (retired)

    Hot Plasma Composition Analyzer (HPCA) and Orbit Design Lead Co-I, Phase D-E: Dr. S. A. Fuselier, SwRI

    • (Hot Plasma Composition Lead Co-I, Phase A-C: Dr. D. T. Young, SwRI, retired)

    Energetic Particles Detector (EPD) Lead Co-I: Dr. Ian Cohen, JHU/APL (2019)

    • (Energetic Particles Detector Lead Co-I, Phase A-E: Dr. Barry Mauk, JHU/APL (retired)

    Active Spacecraft Potential Control Devices (ASPOC) Lead Co-I, Phase E: Dr. R. Nakamura, IWF (2009)

    • (ASPOC Lead Co-I, Phase A-D: Dr. K. Torkar, IWF (retired)

    Science Operations Center (SOC) Lead Co-I: Dr. D. N. Baker / LASP, CU Boulder

    Theory and Modeling Team (TMT) Lead Co-I: Dr. M. Hesse / NASA GSFC


    MMS Science Working Group: 

    Chair, PI - Jim Burch
    Vice-Chair, PS - Barbara Giles
    HPCA Team Lead - Stephen Fuselier
    ASPOC Team Lead - Rumi Nakamura
    Fields Team Lead - Roy Torbert
    FPI Team Lead - Dan Gershman
    EPD Team Lead - Ian Cohen
    Theory and Modeling Lead - Michael Hesse
    Science Operation Center Lead - Daniel Baker
    Science Operations Team Lead - Tai Phan
    Burst Mode Lead - Robert Ergun

    see charter at http://lasp.colorado.edu/galaxy/display/mms/SWG_Charter

     

    MMS Mission Operations Team

    Jim Clapsadle, GSFC/NASA – Mission Director
    Chris Riley, KBR – Mission Operations Supervisor
    Carl Phillips, KBR – Mission Operations Lead
    Nick Padgett, KBR – Real-Time Operations Engineer
    Alex Peljovich, KBR – Real-Time Operations Engineer
    Calvin Dobrin, KBR – Real-Time Operations Engineer
    Grace Jackson, KBR – Real-Time Operations Engineer
    Steve Payne, KBR – Mission Planner
    Lauren Hancox, KBR – Mission Planner

    MMS Flight Dynamics Operations Team

    Trevor Williams, GSFC/NASA – FDOA Lead
    Neil Ottenstein, a.i. solutions, inc. – Mission Operations Lead
    Babak Vint, a.i. solutions, inc. – Attitude Ground System Lead
    Eric Palmer, GSFC/NASA – FDGSS Lead
    Abram Aguilar, a.i. solutions, inc. – FDOA support Engineer
    Benjamin Stringer, a.i. solutions, inc. – FDOA support Engineer
    Anthony Wolosik, a.i. solutions, inc. – FDOA support Engineer
    Aalok Patel, a.i. solutions, inc. – FDOA support Engineer
    Vishnu Santhosh , a.i. solutions inc. – FDOA support Engineer

    MMS Science Co-Is

    Dr. N. Ahmadi, LASP, (Fields) (2018)
    Dr. B. Anderson, JHU/APL (Magnetic Cleanliness)
    Dr. M. André, IRFU (SDP)
    Dr. U. Auster, TUBS (DFG)
    Dr. L. Avanov, NASA GSFC (FPI) (2018)
    Dr. D. N. Baker / LASP, CU Boulder (SOC)

    Dr. W. Baumjohann, IWF Graz (EDI)
    Dr. J. Birn, LANL (TMT)
    Dr. B. Blake, Aerospace (EPD/FEEPS)
    Dr. Li-Jen Chen, GSFC (FPI, TMT) (2018)
    Dr. J. Clemmons, Aerospace (EPD/FEEPS)
    Dr. A. J. Coates, MSSL (FPI/DES)
    Dr. I. Cohen, JHU/APL (EPD) (2018)
    Dr. O. Le Contel, LPP, France

    Dr. R. Denton, Dartmouth (TMT)
    Dr. J. Drake, U. MD (TMT)
    Prof. R. E. Ergun, LASP/U. Colorado

    Dr. A. Ericksson, IRFU (SDP)
    Dr. S. Ericksson, LASP (SDP) (2018)
    Dr. J. Fennell, Aerospace (EPD/FEEPS) (2018)
    Dr. H. Funsten, LANL (HPCA)
    Dr. S. A. Fuselier, SwRI (HPCA)

    Dr. K. Genestreti, UNH/SwRI (Fields) (2018)
    Dr. D. Gershman, NASA GSFC (FPI) (2018)
    Dr. B. L. Giles, NASA GSFC

    Dr. K.-H. Glassmeier, TUBS (DFG)
    Prof. M. V. Goldman, U. Colorado (IDS)
    Dr. T. Gombosi, U. Mich. (TMT)
    Dr. R. Gomez, SwRI (HPCA) (2018)
    Dr. M. Grande, RAL/TBD (EPD/FEEPS)
    Dr. G. Haerendel, MPI Garching (TMT) (ret.)
    Dr. M. Hesse / NASA GSFC (TMT)

    Dr. M. Hoshino, U. Tokyo (TMT)
    Dr. C. Kletzing, U Iowa (EDI)
    Dr. B. Lavraud, IRAP (FPI) (2018)
    Dr. G. Le, NASA/GSFC
    Dr. P.-A. Lindqvist, KTH Stockholm

    Dr. S. Livi, SwRI (EPD/EIS)
    Dr. W. Magnes, IWF, Graz (FGM) - (DFG) (2009)
    Dr. G. Marklund, KTH Stockholm (SDP)
    Dr. W. Matthaeus, Bartol, U. Del. (TMT)
    Dr. Barry Mauk, JHU/APL (retired)

    Dr. D. J. McComas, SwRI (Calibration)
    Dr. T. E. Moore, NASA GSFC (retired)

    Dr. T. Mukai, ISAS, Tokyo (FPI/DIS, retired)
    Dr. R. Nakamura, IWF Austria (ASPOC)

    Dr. G. Paschmann, ISSI (EDI) (ret.)
    Dr. W. Paterson, NASA GSFC (FPI) - (2010)
    Dr. S. Petrinec, LMATC (HPCA and Orbit Design) (2018)
    Dr. T. Phan, U. Calif. Berkeley (SITL) (2018)
    Dr. F. Plaschke, TU Braunschweig, Germany (FGM) (2016)
    Dr. C. J. Pollock, NASA GSFC (retired)

    Dr. G. Reeves, LANL (EPD)
    Dr. P. Reiff, Rice U. (EPO)
    Dr. A. Roux, CETP (SCM, deceased)
    Prof. C. T.  Russell, UCLA

    Dr. J. Quinn (EDI, retired)
    Dr. Y. Saito, ISAS (FPI/DIS)
    Dr. J-A. Sauvaud, IRAP, Toulouse (FPI) (2009)
    Dr. D. Sibeck, GSFC (TMT)
    Dr. J. Slavin, GSFC, UMich (AFG)
    Dr. H Spence, UNH (EPD)
    Dr. M. Steller, IWF, Graz (EDI) - (2009)
    Prof. R. B. Torbert, U New Hampshire
    Dr. K. Torkar, IWF Austria (ASPOC) (retired)

    Dr. K.-H. Trattner, U. Colorado (HPCA)
    Dr. D. Turner, JHU/APL (EDP/FEEPS) (2018)
    Dr. P. Valek, SWRI (Calibration) (2010)
    Dr. F. Wilder, LASP (Fields) (2018)
    Dr. S. Yokota, ISAS, Tokyo (FPI) (2010)
    Dr. D. T. Young, SwRI (retired)

    *all are original to proposal team except as noted with nomination year

    Science Team Members

    Dr. M. Andriopoulou, IWF Graz (ASPOC)
    Dr. A. Ardakani, U New Hampshire (HPCA/FIELDS)
    Dr. M. Argall, UNH (EDI)
    Dr. D. Kaker (EPD)
    Dr. M. Berthomier, LPP France (SCM)
    Kevin Blasl,  IWF Austria (ASPOC)
    Dr. S. Bounds, U. Iowa (EDI)
    Dr. J. Buechner, MPE Lindau
    Dr. M. Chandler, NASA/MSFC (FPI)
    Dr. Alexandros Chasapis, CU/LASP (FIELDS)
    Dr. V. Coffey, NASA/MSFC (FPI)
    Dr. J. Dorelli, NASA GSFC (FPI)
    Dr. I. Dors, UNH (EDI)
    Dr. Johnathan Eastwood, Imperial College
    Dr. P. Escoubet, ESA ESTEC (ASPOC)
    Dr. C. Farrugia, U New Hampshire (FIELDS)
    Dr. A. Fazakerley, MSSL
    Dr. C. Gabrielse, Aerospace (EPD/FEEPS)
    Dr. Imogen Gingell, Imperial College
    Prof. Katherine Goodrich, UVW (FIELDS)
    Dr. D. Graham, IRF Uppsala (SDP)
    Dr. S. Heuer, U New Hampshire (FIELDS)
    Dr. Sanni Hoilijoki, U. Helsinki (FIELDS)
    Dr. Justin Holmes, LANL (FIELDS)
    Martin Hostner, IWF Austria (ASPOC)
    Dr. Trevor Leonard, CIRES/NOAA

    Christy Lentz, LASP U Colorado
    Dr. K. LLera – SwRI (HPCA)
    Dr. A. Jaynes, U Iowa (EPD/FEEPS)
    Dr. H. Jeszenszky, IWF Graz (ASPOC)
    Dr. T. Karlsson, KTH Stockholm (SDP)
    Dr. Y. Khotyaintsev, IRF, Uppsala (SDP)
    Lily Kromyda, CU/LASP FIELDS
    Dr. H. Matsui, UNH (EDI)
    Dr. Takuma Nakamura, IWF Austria (ASPOC)
    Dr. Mitsuo Oka, UC Berkeley (Burst Team)
    Dr. Evgeny Panov, IWF Austria (ASPOC)
    Dr. Neha Pathak, CU/LAPS (FIELDS)
    Dr. D. Payne, UMaryland (FIELDS)
    Dr. Yi QI, CU/LAPS (FIELDS)
    Dr. A. Retino, LPP France (SCM)
    Dr. Owen Roberts, IWF Austria (ASPOC)
    Dr. A. Rogers, U New Hampshire (FIELDS)
    Dr. F. Sahraoui, LPP France (SCM)
    Dr. C. Schiff, NASA GSFC (FPI)
    Dr. J. Shuster, NASA GSFC (FPI)
    Dr. S. Schwartz, Q.M. College, LANL
    Daniel Sega, CU/LASP FIELDS
    Dr. Julia Stawarz, Imperial College (FIELDS)
    Dr. R. Strangeway, UCLA (FGM)
    Dr. M. Thomsen, LANL (retired)
    Dr. Maria Usanova, CU/LASP (FIELDS)
    Dr. H. Vaith, UNH (EDI)
    Dr. A. Vaivads, IRF Uppsala (SDP)
    Dr. S. K. Vines – APL (HPCA)
    Tien Vo, CU/LASP FIELDS
    Dr. J. Vogt, U. Bremen
    Dr. J. Westlake, JHU/APL (EPD/EIS)

    Interdisciplinary Science Team Leads

    (These teams, selected by NASA HQ separately from the mission team, were not continued into extended mission
    and are listed for reference. Several continue their work on the mission and are now associated with the instrument teams above.)

    Martin Goldman, Univ. of Colorado
    Theory and Simulation of Basic Kinetic Physics of Magnetic Reconnection in Support of MMS

    • Lapenta, Giovanni ; Co-I; United States Department of Energy   
    • Parker, Scott E; Co-I; University of Colorado at Boulder   
    • Eriksson, Stefan ; Co-I; University of Colorado  
    • Andersson, Laila ; Co-I; University of Colorado    
    • Newman, David L.; Co-I; University of Colorado    
    • Gosling, John T.; Co-I; University of Colorado          

    Tai Phan, Univ. of California, Berkeley
    Coupled Observational-Theoretical Investigations of Magnetic Reconnection in Support of the MMS Mission Design, Operation, and Data Analysis

    • Angelopoulos, Vassilis ; Co-I; University of California, Berkeley    
    • Peticolas, Laura ; Co-I; University of California at Berkeley    
    • Eastwood, Jonathan P; Co-I; UC Berkeley    
    • Oieroset, Marit ; Co-I; University of California 
    • Fujimoto, Masaki ; Co-I;Tokyo Institute of Technology    
    • Chaston, Christopher C; Co-I; University of California
    • Bonnell, John W; Co-I; University of California    
    • Mozer, Forrest ; Co-I; Space Sciences Laboratory    
    • Shay, Michael A; Co-I; University of Delaware
    • Bale, Stuart D.; Co-I; University of California           

    Melvyn Goldstein, GSFC (with Lead Institutional Co-I, M. Ashour-Abdalla, UCLA)
    Mission Oriented Support and Theory (MOST) for MMS

    • Walker, Raymond J.; Co-I;University of California, Los Angeles 
    • Leboeuf, Jean-Noel G.; Co-I; University of California at Los Angeles
    • Coroniti, Ferdinand V; Co-I;  University of California Los Angeles
    • Collier, Michael R; Co-I;  NASA/GSFC 
    • Kuznetsova, Maria M; Co-I;  NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    • Klimas, Alex; Co-I;  NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    • Berchem, Jean P.; Co-I; UCLA 
    • Vinas, Adolfo F; Co-I; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
    • Richard, Robert L; Co-I;  University of California at Los Angeles
    • Schriver, David; Co-I;  UCLA 
    • Farrell, William; Co-I;NASA/GSFC 
    • Ashour-Abdalla, Maha ; Co-I; UCLA
    • El Alaoui, Mostafa; Co-I; University of California, Los Angeles
    • Peroomian, Vahe; Co-I; University of California Los Angeles;