Latest news with #TandemReconnectionandCuspElectrodynamicsReconnaissanceSatellites
Malaysian Reserve
6 days ago
- Science
- Malaysian Reserve
Millennium Space Systems Begins On-Orbit Commissioning of NASA's TRACERS Mission Following Successful Launch
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., July 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company, has begun on-orbit commissioning of NASA's Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS), following the mission's launch on Wednesday, July 23. Millennium designed, built, and tested the two identical TRACERS spacecraft at its factory in El Segundo and is conducting mission operations from the company's in-house Mission Operations Center (MOC). 'Millennium has enabled TRACERS through design, production, and now into launch and mission operations,' said Tony Gingiss, CEO, Millennium Space Systems. 'We are thrilled to be part of this important NASA mission, enabling critical advances in heliophysics science which will help improve our understanding of space weather, ultimately benefitting commercial and national space systems.' The spacecraft launched as a primary rideshare payload aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base after completing testing at Millennium's Small Satellite Factory in June 2025. 'TRACERS is the result of strong collaboration between our team, NASA, the University of Iowa, and Southwest Research Institute,' said Richard Prasad, TRACERS Spacecraft and MOC Project Manager, Millennium Space Systems. 'That close partnership was key to delivering two high-quality spacecraft, and we'll continue working together through on-orbit operations to ensure the mission achieves its science objectives.' Now in orbit, the spacecraft will work in tandem to study the interactions between the Sun's magnetic field and Earth's magnetosphere to advance understanding of how this interaction shapes space weather on Earth. For more information about Millennium Space Systems and the TRACERS mission, please visit and Media ContactMichael Atchue, Communications ManagerE-mail:
Time of India
6 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
NASA launches TRACERS twin satellites to discover the mysterious link between solar storms and tech failures
Our daily lives have increasingly become dependent upon advanced space technology satellites like GPS, communication satellites, and weather systems. So understanding the invisible forces coming from the Sun is also important. NASA has taken a major step in this direction by launching a pair of satellites known as TRACERS, which means Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites. These twin spacecraft are on a mission to better understand one of space's most energetic and mysterious processes, which is also known as magnetic reconnection. The satellites were lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 11:13 a.m. EDT, according to NASA. This twin satellite system is set to study the constant stream of solar wind and charged particles flowing from the Sun, which interacts with Earth's magnetic shield, also known as the magnetosphere. What is magnetic reconnection When the solar wind hits this magnetic field, it can lead to magnetic reconnection, which also releases a huge amount of energy. 'As the solar wind collides with Earth's magnetic field, this interaction builds up energy that can cause the magnetic field lines to snap and explosively fling away nearby particles at high speeds. This is magnetic reconnection,' explained John Dorelli, TRACERS mission science lead at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. What is special about the mission? These reconnection events can cause beautiful light shows like auroras, but also cause problems for satellites, astronauts, and GPS systems. That's why TRACERS is an important mission. Over the first year alone, the mission is expected to get information on more than 3,000 such reconnection events. The twin satellites will do this while orbiting through Earth's polar cusp region, funnel-like openings in the magnetic field where the solar wind has a direct path into our atmosphere. How will the data from these satellites help the scientists The data gathered from TRACERS will help scientists improve space weather forecasting and better protect critical technology here on Earth. NASA says that once the satellites are in their sun-synchronous orbit, they'll fly in tandem, sometimes just seconds apart, to study these high-energy events in real-time. 'This is going to help us keep our way of life safe here on Earth,' said Joe Westlake, director of NASA's heliophysics division.
UPI
24-07-2025
- Science
- UPI
SpaceX launches satellites from California, Florida day after scrubs
SpaceX launches TRACER satellites for NASA. July 23, 2025. SpaceX screenshot. July 23 (UPI) -- SpaceX launched two Falcon 9 rockets with satellite payloads after they were scrubbed less than a minute before liftoff one day earlier in Florida and California. In both situations, the rockets and payloads were in good health. On Wednesday, the private agency launched two Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites, or TRACER, for NASA at 2:13 p.m. PDT from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission was scrubbed just 45 seconds before liftoff Tuesday because of Federal Aviation Administration "airspace concerns" in the Santa Barbara area, which is midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. On Tuesday, SpaceX launched two O3b mPOWER satellites for Luxembourg-based SES from Cape Canaveral Space Station's Pad 40 in Florida at 5:12 p.m. EDT after the mission was scrubbed 11 seconds before liftoff. Vandenberg The "airspace concerns" were linked to a power issue at an FAA control center. "A regional power outage in the Santa Barbara area disrupted telecommunications at the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center, which manages air traffic over the Pacific Ocean," an FAA spokesperson said in a statement to SpaceFlight Now. "As a result, the FAA postponed the SpaceX Falcon 9 TRACERS launch on Tuesday, July 22. The FAA took this action to ensure the safety of the traveling public." The two TRACER satellites were deployed near each other to "help understand magnetic reconnection and its effects in Earth's atmosphere." They were deployed into a low-Earth orbit of 367 miles. Other payloads were the Athena EPIC, the Polylingual Experimental Terminal and the Relativistic Electron Atmospheric Loss. The REAL mission will explore high-energy particles in Earth's Van Allen radiation belts scattered in the atmosphere. Less than 8 minutes after liftoff, Falcon 9's first stage landed on SpaceX's Landing Zone 4 stationed in the Pacific Ocean. Cape Canaveral A reason wasn't given for the late scrubbing. About 8 1/2 minutes after liftoff, the booster landed on Just Read the Instructions droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. The same first-stage booster launched the last two satellites for SES in December 2024. The booster was also involved in the NASA Crew-10 launch and two Statlink missions. SpaceX earlier launched eight satellites for the company into medium Earth orbit. They are stationed about 5,000 miles above Earth. It was SpaceX's 15th SES mission with the first one in 2013. The two mPOWER satellites were delivered by Boeing to Florida earlier this month. "This next-generation satellite network was designed to bring connectivity to the 'other three billion' -- those who lack consistent, reliable access to communications systems," SES said on its website. "For the first time, telcos connect entire island nations, remote industries access digital tools and governments conduct vital operations to the harshest terrains."
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Elon Musk's SpaceX launch could trigger sonic booms across Southern California, officials warn
Officials have issued a warning that residents in California's Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms roughly eight minutes after SpaceX 's Falcon 9 launch on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. The loud, thunder-like sounds are expected as the rocket's first stage makes its high-speed return to Earth and attempts a landing at SpaceX's Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg Space Force Base. While potentially startling, the booms are harmless and a routine feature of SpaceX's reusable rocket system. The launch, scheduled for 11:13 a.m. PDT, will carry NASA's TRACERS mission and three additional payloads into orbit during a 57-minute launch window. SpaceX to launch NASA's TRACERS mission aboard Falcon 9 from Vandenberg The upcoming mission will launch from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Falcon 9 will carry NASA's TRACERS satellites (Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites), designed to study the interaction between solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere. This data is expected to improve scientific understanding of space weather and its effects on satellite communications and Earth's atmosphere. Alongside TRACERS, three smaller research satellites will also hitch a ride into orbit. Why Falcon 9's return causes sonic booms by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Are you 18-79 with no funeral insurance? Talk to NZ Seniors today NZ Seniors Get Quote Undo Sonic booms occur when a vehicle travels faster than the speed of sound, creating shock waves that reach the ground as loud, abrupt noises. In SpaceX launches, the Falcon 9 booster separates from the upper stage shortly after liftoff and performs a controlled descent back to Earth. As it slows down and lands vertically at Landing Zone 4, it breaks the sound barrier, resulting in one or more sonic booms. These booms may vary in intensity depending on weather conditions and flight trajectory. Residents advised not to panic Officials have emphasized that these sounds are expected and are no cause for concern. The booms are not harmful and are a byproduct of SpaceX's innovative reusable rocket technology, which has become a standard part of its missions. Past launches have triggered similar public alerts to avoid alarm when sonic booms occur. How to follow the launch of TRACERS mission NASA and SpaceX will provide live coverage of the launch event on their respective websites and social media platforms. Local authorities may also issue real-time updates or reminders to residents in affected areas. In the event of a delay, a backup launch window is available on Wednesday, July 23, at the same time. As Southern California braces for a brief rumble from above, the mission marks yet another step forward in understanding the space environment that surrounds our planet.
21-07-2025
- Science
NASA to launch 2 new satellites that will help forecast solar storms
The northern lights have been captivating stargazers for generations. But the same charged particles from the Sun's atmosphere responsible for this brilliant celestial display can also damage and destroy Earth's electrical and communications systems. The Earth's magnetosphere protects the planet from the constant bombardment of solar particles, known as solar wind. This magnetic shield usually keeps these dangerous particles from damaging and destroying our technological infrastructure. But there are weak spots in the shield above the North and South Poles called polar cusps. You can think of them as a front door or funnel for the solar winds to enter our atmosphere. When the Sun's particles enter this funnel, the Earth's and the Sun's magnetic fields can come into contact with one another and rearrange themselves in a process scientists call magnetic reconnection. If that occurs, a powerful explosion of energy is released, sometimes equivalent to an entire day's worth of power consumed in the United States. These events can trigger the dazzling auroras or, in some extreme cases, disable satellites and cause electrical grid failures. The Sun has been particularly active lately as it's reached the peak of its 11-year solar cycle. To better understand how the magnetic reconnection process works and its impact on Earth, NASA is launching a pair of research satellites on Tuesday at 2:13 p.m. ET on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, as part of a ride-share mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The TRACERS mission, short for Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites, includes two spacecraft flying in close formation in low Earth orbit at speeds exceeding 16,000 miles per hour. One satellite will trail the other by just 10 to 120 seconds, allowing researchers to capture changes in space weather activity in near real time, according to David Miles, a professor at the University of Iowa and the principal investigator for TRACERS. "So, we have two spacecraft. This is the novel part of TRACERS," explained Miles during a mission press conference. "That gives us two closely spaced measurements that allow us to pick apart: Is something accelerating and slowing down? Is something moving around? Is something turning on and turning off?" he added. Each satellite carries a suite of instruments and tools for measuring how the Sun's hot, ionized gas impacts the magnetosphere. "What we will learn from TRACERS is critical for the understanding and eventually the predicting of how energy from our Sun impacts our Earth and our space and ground-based assets, whether it be GPS or communication signals, power grids, space assets and our astronauts working up in space. It's going to help us keep our way of life safe here on Earth and help to continue to enable safe space exploration," said Joe Westlake, NASA's director of Heliophysics. The mission comes amid growing concern about the dangers of space weather and the possibility that solar storms could knock out communication systems, degrade GPS accuracy and damage power infrastructure on Earth. In the past, solar storms have been responsible for power blackouts, destroyed satellites and disruption to the GPS navigation system. "Understanding our Sun and the space weather it produces is more important to us here on Earth than most realize. Every human on Earth, as well as nearly every system that's involved in space exploration and human needs, is affected by space weather," Westlake said.
