-
ESA - Swarm updates by bolun on 28 Oct, 2011 13:32
-
ESA's magnetic field mission Swarm
The objective of the Swarm mission is to provide the best ever survey of the geomagnetic field and its temporal evolution, and gain new insights into improving our knowledge of the Earth’s interior and climate.
The Swarm concept consists of a constellation of three satellites in three different polar orbits between 400 and 550 km altitude. High-precision and high-resolution measurements of the strength and direction of the magnetic field will be provided by each satellite. In combination, they will provide the necessary observations that are required to model various sources of the geomagnetic field. GPS receivers, an accelerometer and an electric field instrument will provide supplementary information for studying the interaction of the magnetic field with other physical quantities describing the Earth system – for example, Swarm could provide independent data on ocean circulation.
The multi-satellite Swarm mission will be able to take full advantage of a new generation of magnetometers enabling measurements to be taken over different regions of the Earth simultaneously. Swarm will also provide monitoring of the time-variability aspects of the geomagnetic field, this is a great improvement on the current method of extrapolation based on statistics and ground observations. The geomagnetic field models resulting from the Swarm mission will further our understanding of atmospheric processes related to climate and weather and will also have practical applications in many different areas, such as space weather and radiation hazards.
http://www.esa.int/esaLP/ESA3QZJE43D_LPswarm_0.html
--------
ESA's Earth Explorers missions
http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEM9JP2VQUD_index_0_m.html
-
#1 by bolun on 28 Oct, 2011 13:37
-
Swarm: magnetic field satellites get their bearings
27 October 2011
ESA’s Swarm satellites, which will unravel the complexities of Earth’s magnetic shield, are being put through their paces to ensure that they will withstand the rigours of space. Marking an important milestone, the first satellite has undergone magnetic testing.
Comprising three identical satellites, Swarm is ESA’s first constellation of Earth observation satellites. They are due to liftoff together on a Rockot launcher from Plesetsk in northern Russia next year.
As the launch date grows closer, all three satellites are being subjected to an intense testing programme at IABG in Ottobrunn, Germany.
http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMLV3HURTG_index_0.html
-
#2 by bolun on 17 Feb, 2012 13:04
-
Swarm constellation heads north
17 February 2012
The three satellites that make up ESA’s Swarm magnetic field mission were presented to the media today. Following a demanding testing programme, the satellites were displayed in the cleanroom before they are shipped to Russia for their July launch.
http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMBHGZXHYG_index_0.html
-
#3 by bolun on 27 Aug, 2012 13:11
-
#4 by Galactic Penguin SST on 29 Aug, 2012 13:03
-
Apparently due to the recent Breeze-M failure, the launch of this mission is now planned in February/March 2013.
http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=986691#986691 -
#5 by bolun on 28 Mar, 2013 10:51
-
#6 by russianhalo117 on 28 Mar, 2013 11:34
-
Swarm SC's and equipment are to be pulled out of storage today for health checks and installation of new software updates to the flight computers that will allow for a potentially longer mission by using more efficient burn and fuel algorithms thus saving move fuel. They will then be placed back into storage before being prepared for shipment to Cosmodrome Plesetsk.
-
#7 by bolun on 14 Sep, 2013 10:36
-
#8 by bolun on 19 Sep, 2013 19:12
-
Launch thread:
Rokot launch with three Swarm satellites - November 14, 2013
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=27808.0
-
#9 by bolun on 19 Sep, 2013 19:15
-
Preparing to launch Swarm
19 September 2013
With the launch of ESA’s Swarm trio set for 14 November, the first satellite has arrived safely at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia. This new mission will unravel one of the most mysterious aspects of our planet: the magnetic field.
The arrival marks the beginning of the ‘launch campaign’, which includes an intensive period of tests to make sure that the satellites are fit for launch after their journey from Germany to Russia.
The campaign also includes the careful task of fuelling the satellites and attaching them to the rocket that will deliver them into orbit.
The remaining two satellites will arrive in the next couple of days, the second later today and the third at the weekend.
All three will be launched together on a single Rockot.
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/The_Living_Planet_Programme/Earth_Explorers/Swarm/Preparing_to_launch_Swarm
Image credit: ESA/G. Spinella
-
#10 by bolun on 07 Dec, 2013 10:43
-
ESA’s Swarm trio on its way to watch over our planet’s magnetic shield
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Swarm/ESA_s_Swarm_trio_on_its_way_to_watch_over_our_planet_s_magnetic_shield
Swarm constellation deploys booms
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Swarm/Swarm_constellation_deploys_booms
End of the beginnig for Swarm trio
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Operations/End_of_the_beginning_for_Swarm_trio
-
#11 by bolun on 07 Dec, 2013 10:46
-
Interview with Rune Floberghagen (mission manager)
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Swarm/Rune_Floberghagen_Mission_Manager -
#12 by bolun on 07 Dec, 2013 10:54
-
#13 by bolun on 06 Feb, 2014 19:07
-
Swarm heads for new heights
6 February 2014
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Swarm/Swarm_heads_for_new_heightsQuoteSince the intensity of solar activity is currently lower than anticipated, the original plan of where to place the satellites at the beginning of science operations has been reviewed recently by the scientific community and experts in ESA.
Low solar activity means the satellites experience lower atmospheric drag, as clearly demonstrated by ESA’s GOCE mission.
Earth's protective shield
Swarm is tasked with measuring and untangling the different magnetic signals that stem from Earth’s core, mantle, crust, oceans, ionosphere and magnetosphere.
Launched together, the three identical Swarm satellites were released into adjacent orbits at an altitude of 490 km.
The satellites may be identical, but to optimise sampling in space and time their orbits are different – a key aspect of the mission.
The data acquired from different locations can be used to distinguish between the changes in the magnetic field caused by the Sun’s activity and those signals that originate from inside Earth.
The result for Swarm is a slightly different orbit configuration that will save satellite fuel at the beginning of the mission and offer a better return for science at a later stage.
Two satellites are now being lowered to an altitude of about 462 km and an inclination of 87.35°. They will orbit almost side by side, about 150 km apart as they pass over the equator. Over the life of the mission they will both descend to about 300 km.
The third satellite is being placed in a higher orbit of 510 km and at a different inclination of 87.75°, slightly closer to the pole.
The difference in inclination will cause a slow drift of the upper satellite relative to the path of the lower two at increasing angles. After three years, the fuel saved can be used to slow down the relative orbital drift. -
#14 by bolun on 06 May, 2014 13:23
-
#15 by bolun on 21 Jun, 2014 08:57
-
Swarm reveals Earth’s changing magnetism
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Swarm/Swarm_reveals_Earth_s_changing_magnetism
Earth from Space: Special edition (Interview with Nils Olsen from DTU Space)
http://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Videos/2014/06/Earth_from_Space_Special_edition2
Image credit: ESA/DTU Space
-
#16 by Prober on 09 Jul, 2014 20:39
-
Looks like Swarm was a very good investment for ESA
some good info coming out.
Earth's Magnetic Field Is Weakening 10 Times Faster Now
http://news.yahoo.com/earths-magnetic-field-weakening-10-times-faster-now-121247349.html -
#17 by bolun on 16 May, 2015 08:34
-
http://www.esa.int/About_Us/ESA_Publications/ESA_Bulletin_161_1st_quarter_2015
From ESA Bulletin 161 (Page 74)QuoteSwarm continues to acquire excellent science data. Satellite constellation maintenance operations are proceeding, this is particularly relevant and important to achieving the bestpossible estimate of all contributors to the total magnetic field. Last year, early mission data were used to derive candidate solutions for the 2015 International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) model. The IGRF is a main field model that (by convention) is updated every five years, and which is used by practically all applications communities and services in need of geomagnetic data. IGRF-12, as the final 2015 model is called, is based on a combination of Swarm, historical satellite data and ground-based observatory data. In addition, a Swarm Initial Field Model, which includes also the computation of the crustal magnetic field at high spatial resolution, has been producedand made available to the community.
-
#18 by bolun on 22 Jun, 2015 15:25
-
Core and crust from Swarm
The image highlights the new crust (right) and core (centre) magnetic field models from Swarm. These preliminary results are based only on the first year of data.
http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2015/06/Core_and_crust_from_Swarm
Related article:
- Magnetic complexity begins to untangle
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Swarm/Magnetic_complexity_begins_to_untangle
-
#19 by bolun on 21 Mar, 2017 09:41
-
Unravelling Earth's magnetic field
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Swarm/Unravelling_Earth_s_magnetic_field
-
#20 by bolun on 22 Feb, 2018 18:28
-
https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Swarm/Swarm_trio_becomes_a_quartet
Swarm trio becomes a quartetQuoteWith the aim of making the best possible use of existing satellites, ESA and Canada have made a deal that turns Swarm into a four-satellite mission to shed even more light on space weather and features such as the aurora borealis.
In orbit since 2013, ESA’s three identical Swarm satellites have been returning a wealth of information about how our magnetic field is generated and how it protects us from dangerous electrically charged atomic particles in the solar wind.
Canada’s Cassiope satellite carries three instrument packages, one of which is e-POP. It delivers information on space weather which complements that provided by Swarm. Therefore, the mission teams began looking into how they could work together to make the most of the two missions.
To make life easier, it also just so happens that Cassiope’s orbit is ideal to improve Swarm’s readings.
And now, thanks to this international cooperation and formalised through ESA’s Third Party Mission programme, e-POP has effectively become a fourth element of the Swarm mission. It joins Swarm’s Alpha, Bravo and Charlie satellites as Echo.
Image credit: Canadian Space Agency, 2018
-
#21 by eeergo on 16 Nov, 2018 10:04
-
#22 by bolun on 12 Feb, 2019 15:08
-
Magnetic north on the move
Driven largely by the churning of fluid in Earth’s core, which generates the magnetic field, the magnetic north pole has always drifted. Around 50 years ago, the pole was ambling along at around 15 km a year, but now it is charging ahead at around 55 km a year, leaving the Canadian Arctic heading towards Siberia.
Related article: Swarm helps pinpoint new magnetic north for smartphones
https://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2019/02/Magnetic_north_on_the_move
Image credit: DTU Space
-
#23 by bolun on 05 May, 2019 08:55
-
Simulation of the magnetic field in Earth’s core
Earth’s core as modelled in the numerical geodynamo simulation as part of research into geomagnetic jerks and rapid hydromagnetic waves published as the cover story in Nature Geosciences, May 2018. The magnetic field lines (orange) are stretched, twisted and folded by the turbulent convection producing shear of electrically conducting fluid (red and blue). Hydromagnetic waves are triggered when the shear is misaligned with field lines, and propagate along these lines to the surface of the core where they can focus and cause geomagnetic jerks.
Related article: Swarm helps explain Earth's magnetic jerks
https://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2019/05/Simulation_of_the_magnetic_field_in_Earth_s_core
Image credit: Julien Aubert, IPGP/CNRS/CNRS Photothèque
-
#24 by bolun on 15 May, 2019 19:13
-
https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Swarm/Tug-of-war_drives_magnetic_north_sprint
Tug-of-war drives magnetic north sprintQuoteUnlike our geographic North Pole, which is in a fixed location, magnetic north wanders. This has been known since it was first measured in 1831, and subsequently mapped drifting slowly from the Canadian Arctic towards Siberia.
One of the practical consequences of this is that the World Magnetic Model has to be updated periodically with the pole’s current location. The model is vital for many navigation systems used by ships, Google maps and smartphones, for example.
One of the many areas of research using information from Swarm focuses on explaining why the pole has picked up such a pace – and a subject being discussed at this week’s Living Planet Symposium.
Between 1990 and 2005 magnetic north accelerated from its historic speed of 0–15 km a year, to its present speed of 50–60 km a year. In late October 2017, it crossed the international date line, passing within 390 km of the geographic pole, and is now heading south.
In fact, recently, the World Magnetic Model had to be updated urgently because of the speed at which the pole is moving.
ESA’s Swarm mission is not only being used to keep track of magnetic north, but scientists are using its data to measure and untangle the different magnetic fields that stem from Earth’s core, mantle, crust, oceans, ionosphere and magnetosphere.
Our magnetic field exists because of an ocean of superheated, swirling liquid iron that makes up the outer core. Like a spinning conductor in a bicycle dynamo, this moving iron creates electrical currents, which in turn generate our continuously changing magnetic field.
Tracking changes in the magnetic field can, therefore, tell researchers how the iron in the core moves.QuoteResearch is showing that changes in the pattern of core flow between 1970 and 1999 elongated the Canadian lobe, significantly weakening its signature on Earth's surface, causing the pole to accelerate towards Siberia.
Simple models taking account of this process and describing future geomagnetic change predict that over the next decade the north magnetic pole will continue on its current trajectory and will travel a further 390–660 km towards Siberia.
-
#25 by jacqmans on 09 Jul, 2021 14:16
-
Swarm yields new insight into animal migration
09/07/2021
Using measurements from ESA’s Earth Explorer Swarm mission, scientists have developed a new tool that links the strength and direction of the magnetic field to the flight paths of migrating birds. This is a huge step forward to understanding how animals use Earth’s magnetic field to navigate vast distances.
These days, it is almost unimaginable for us to set off on a long journey without being equipped with some form of satellite navigation, or at least a map. Migratory animals, however, manage to cross entire oceans and continents, navigating with exceptional skills of their own. In spite of decades of research, we still do not understand fully how these remarkable animals are able to find their way – although it has been suspected that Earth’s magnetic field lines are among the cues that guide them.
Recent advances in GPS and the miniaturisation of tracking devices have allowed ecologists to tag migratory animals, from birds to whales, to understand how they travel from A to B. However, while animal tracking data are now common, little investigation has been made into how animals respond to real geomagnetic conditions, since the magnetic field changes continuously across the globe, particularly during geomagnetic storms.
Until recently, there was no way to assess accurately the strength of the magnetic field at the time and location that animals pass by, which would allow ecologists to study how they use this natural force for navigation.
However, a new tool allows ecologists, for the first time, to compute the strength and direction of the magnetic field along animal migratory paths.
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Swarm/Swarm_yields_new_insight_into_animal_migration -
#26 by bolun on 14 Jul, 2022 18:37
-
https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1547562942672936965Quote
What’s worse than dealing with deadly #SpaceDebris and violent #SpaceWeather?
Dealing with both at the same time!
@esa_swarm has dodged a potential collision at short notice, right in the middle of its 10-week climb to escape the Sun’s wrath:
https://esa.int/Space_Safety/Swarm_dodges_collision_during_climb_to_escape_Sun_s_wrath -
#27 by bolun on 10 Oct, 2022 19:45
-
Again
https://twitter.com/esa_swarm/status/1579381331884404736Quote"Collision avoided! 💥 In the wee small hours this morning Swarm-Alpha was moved out of harm's way - space debris in the form of a rocket body 🚀 that has been threatening our inner duo 🫣 Thanks to the hard work of the @esaoperations Space Debris Office for guiding us clear!
-
#28 by bolun on 07 Nov, 2022 16:51
-
https://twitter.com/esa_swarm/status/1589565513541517312Quote
Collision avoided! 💥 No fireworks for Swarm Charlie this weekend thanks to the timely work of the space debris office, flight dynamics team & more @esaoperations, who swerved us out of the way of a small spacecraft early on Sunday morning 🚀 It’s busy up there!
QuoteIt's getting busier. This is the 6th time we’ve had to move one of the Swarm satellites out of harm’s way this year, and the 22nd time we’ve had to call in a collision avoidance manoeuvre operation 🫣 That’s compared to 13 in the whole of 2021.
-
#29 by jacqmans on 12 Jun, 2024 13:55
-
Swarm helps discover Steve's long-lost twin
03/06/2024
Ever since aurora chasers discovered Steve, a mysterious ribbon of purple light in the night sky, scientists have wondered whether it might have a secret twin. Now, thanks to a photographer’s keen eye, and data from ESA’s Swarm satellites, we may have found it.
Steve was a sensation when scientists stumbled across it a few years ago, thanks to the eagle eyes and excellent photography of the Alberta Aurora Chasers Facebook group.
But its mauve hue and fleeting appearance meant it couldn’t be a feature of the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, which comes in shades of green, blue and red and can last for hours. So, what could it be?
Fortunately, ESA’s trio of magnetic-field monitoring Swarm satellites were perfectly placed to help investigate.
It turned out that Steve was a fast-moving stream of extremely hot gas called a sub-auroral ion drift. Or, to give Steve its full name, a strong thermal emission velocity enhancement.
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Swarm/Swarm_helps_discover_Steve_s_long-lost_twin
