Exploring the Mercury magnetosphere (»Add to Infobox)

Research Leader: Professor Lars Blomberg Judy Cumnock Blomberg, Professor Göran Marklund

Space and Plasma Physics

We participate in the ESA-JAXA mission BepiColombo to the planet Mercury. The mission comprises two modules, a planetary orbiter (MPO) and a magnetospheric orbiter (MMO). The mission will study the...

We participate in the ESA-JAXA mission BepiColombo to the planet Mercury. The mission comprises two modules, a planetary orbiter (MPO) and a magnetospheric orbiter (MMO). The mission will study the planet as well as the surrounding magnetosphere and will shed new light on a range of topics, including the formation of the solar system, the evolution of the Terrestrial planets, planetary magnetism, magnetospheric dynamics, and solar wind - magnetosphere interaction. In parallel, the solar wind will be monitored at a heliocentric longitude different from Earth's, clarifying the structure of the inner heliosphere.The two orbiters will fly together to Mercury using solar electric propulsion as well as Venus and Mercury gravity assists for the cruise and chemical propulsion for orbit insertion at Mercury. Once they reach Mercury they will go into separate polar orbits, each optimised for the scientific measurements to be made. Currently launch is planned for 2013 with Mercury orbit insertion in 2019. We have the main responsibility for MEFISTO, an electric field instrument that is part of the Plasma Wave Investigation (PWI) selected for flight by JAXA. Together with colleagues in Sweden, Norway, and Finland, and in close collaboration with the PWI team in Japan, KTH will provide the MEFISTO instrument, for the magnetospheric orbiter. In parallel with the hardware design we are currently studying different aspects of the Mercury magnetosphere using theory and modelling. Period: 2004-07-15 - 2021-12-31 Keywords: Magnetosphere, Space plasmas, Space research Project URL: http://www.spp.ee.kth.se/res/ss/

SOURCE OF FUNDING (2/2)