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MMS Science Coordination Site

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 will address three specific objectives:

Determine the role played by electron inertial effects 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 in the physics of magnetic reconnection.

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