Page History
About the Mission:
The scientific objective of the MMS mission is to:
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
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. –
Vishnu Santhosh
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
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. 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.
B.
Anderson,
JHU/APL (Magnetic Cleanliness)
Dr.
M. André, IRFU (SDP)
Dr.
M.
Argall,
UNH (
Fields) (
2023)
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)
Dr.
J.
Dr. G. Haerendel, MPI Garching (TMT) (ret.)
Dr. M. Hoshino, U. Tokyo (TMT
Eastwood, Imperial College (2023)
Prof. R. E. Ergun, LASP/U. Colorado
Dr. A. Eriksson, IRFU (SDP)
Dr.
S.
Eriksson, LASP (SDP) (2018)
Dr.
J.
Fennell,
Aerospace (
EPD/FEEPS) (2018)
Dr. H. Funsten, LANL (HPCA)
Dr. S.
A. Fuselier, SwRI (
HPCA)
Dr.
C.
Gabrielse,
Aerospace (EPD/FEEPS) (2023)
Dr.
K.
Genestreti, UNH/SwRI (Fields) (2018)
Dr.
D.
Gershman, NASA GSFC (FPI) (2018)
Dr.
B.
L.
Giles,
NASA GSFC (
retired)
Dr.
Dr. G. Paschmann, ISSI (EDI) (ret.
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.
D.
Graham,
IRF Uppsala (SDP) (
2023)
Dr.
M.
Grande, RAL/TBD (EPD/FEEPS)
Dr.
G.
Haerendel,
MPI Garching (
TMT) (
retired)
Dr.
M. Hesse / NASA GSFC (TMT)
Dr.
M.
Hoshino,
U. Tokyo (
TMT)
Dr. K.
J.
Hwang,
SwRI (
2023)
Dr.
C. Kletzing, U Iowa (EDI
)
Dr. Y.
Khotyaintsev, IRF Uppsala (SDP) (2023)
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
*all are original to proposal team except as noted with nomination year
Science Team Members
Dr. Maria Andriopoulou, IWF Graz /DIS, retired)
Dr. R. Nakamura, IWF Austria (ASPOC)
Dr. M.
Oka, U. Calif. Berkeley (SITL) (2023)
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.
O.
Roberts, IWF Austria, (2023)
Dr.
A.
Roux,
CETP (SCM, deceased)
Prof. C.
T.
Russell,
UCLA (
retired)
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.
J.
Stawarz,
Northumbria Univ (
2023)
Dr.
M.
Dr. J. Shuster, NASA GSFC (FPI)
Dr. S. Schwartz, Q.M. College, LANL
Dr. R. Strangeway, UCLA (FGM)
Dr. M. Thomsen, LANL (ret.)
Dr. H. Vaith, UNH (EDI)
Dr. A. Vaivads, IRF Uppsala (SDP)
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 here for reference. Several continue their work on the mission and are now associated with the instrument teams above.)
Prof. M. V. Goldman, U. Colorado
Dr. T. Phan, U. Calif. Berkeley
Dr. Melvyn L. Goldstein, NASA GSFC (retired)
Prof. M. Ashour-Abdalla, Univ. Calif. in Los Angeles (deceased)
Martin Goldman, Univ. of Colorado
Theory and Simulation of Basic Kinetic Physics of Magnetic Reconnection in Support of MMS
- Lapenta, Giovanni ; Co-I; glapenta@msn.com; United States Department of Energy; 505-667-4394
- Parker, Scott E; Co-I; sparker@colorado.edu; University of Colorado at Boulder; 303-492-3292
- Eriksson, Stefan ; Co-I; eriksson@lasp.colorado.edu; University of Colorado; 303-492-8573
- Andersson, Laila ; Co-I; laila.andersson@lasp.colorado.edu; University of Colorado; 303-492-1689
- Newman, David L.; Co-I; David.Newman@colorado.edu; University of Colorado; 303-492-6967
- Gosling, John T.; Co-I; jack.gosling@lasp.colorado.edu; University of Colorado; 303-735-5536
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; vassilis@ssl.berkeley.edu; University of California, Berkeley; 510-643-1871
- Peticolas, Laura ; Co-I; laura@ssl.berkeley.edu; University of California at Berkeley; 510-643-6295
- Eastwood, Jonathan P; Co-I; eastwood@ssl.berkeley.edu; UC Berkeley; 510-642-1350
- Oieroset, Marit ; Co-I; oieroset@ssl.berkeley.edu; University of California; 510-642-2290
- Fujimoto, Masaki ; Co-I; fujimoto@geo.titech.ac.jp; Tokyo Institute of Technology; 81-3-5734-3535
- Chaston, Christopher C; Co-I; ccc@ssl.berkeley.edu; University of California; 510-643-1077
- Bonnell, John W; Co-I; jbonnell@ssl.berkeley.edu; University of California; 510-301-0005
- Mozer, Forrest ; Co-I; fmozer@ssl.berkeley.edu; Space Sciences Laboratory; 510-642-0549
- Shay, Michael A; Co-I; shay@physics.udel.edu; University of Delaware; 302-831-2677
- Bale, Stuart D.; Co-I; bale@ssl.berkeley.edu; University of California; 510-643-3324
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; rwalker@igpp.ucla.edu; University of California, Los Angeles; 310-825-7685
- Leboeuf, Jean-Noel G.; Co-I; leboeuf@physics.ucla.edu; University of California at Los Angeles; 310-206-1896
- Coroniti, Ferdinand V; Co-I; coroniti@astro.ucla.edu; University of California Los Angeles; 310-825-3923
- Collier, Michael R; Co-I; michael.r.collier@nasa.gov; NASA/GSFC Code 612.2; 301-286-5256
- Kuznetsova, Maria M; Co-I; masha@elbrus.gsfc.nasa.gov; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; 301-286-9571
- Klimas, Alex ; Co-I; alex.klimas@nasa.gov; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; 301-286-3682
- Berchem, Jean P.; Co-I; jberchem@igpp.ucla.edu; UCLA; 310-206-2849
- Vinas, Adolfo F; Co-I; adolfo.vinas@gsfc.nasa.gov; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; 301-286-6221
- Richard, Robert L; Co-I; rrichard@igpp.ucla.edu; University of California at Los Angeles; 310-825-6663
- Schriver, David ; Co-I; dave@igpp.ucla.edu; UCLA; 310-825-6843
- Farrell, william m; Co-I; william.farrell@gsfc.nasa.gov; NASA/GSFC; 301-286-4446
- Ashour-Abdalla, Maha ; Co-I; mabdalla@igpp.ucla.edu; UCLA; 310-825-8881
- El Alaoui, Mostafa ; Co-I; mostafa@igpp.ucla.edu; University of California, Los Angeles; 310-206-4175
- Peroomian, Vahe ; Co-I; vahe@igpp.ucla.edu; University of California Los Angeles; 310-825-4114
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
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. A. Vaivads, KTH Sweden (2023)
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
Science Team Members
Dr. M. Andriopoulou, IWF Graz (ASPOC)
Dr. A. Ardakani, U New Hampshire (HPCA/FIELDS)
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. P. Escoubet, ESA ESTEC (ASPOC)
Dr. C. Farrugia, U New Hampshire (FIELDS)
Dr. A. Fazakerley, MSSL
Dr. Imogen Gingell, Imperial College
Prof. Katherine Goodrich, UVW (FIELDS)
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)
Lily Kromyda, CU/LASP FIELDS
Dr. H. Matsui, UNH (EDI)
Dr. Takuma Nakamura, IWF Austria (ASPOC)
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. 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. R. Strangeway, UCLA (FGM)
Dr. M. Thomsen, LANL (retired)
Dr. Maria Usanova, CU/LASP (FIELDS)
Dr. H. Vaith, UNH (EDI)
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. Many 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;
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