NASA Spacecraft in Earth’s Orbit, Preparing to Study Magnetic Reconnection

NASA Spacecraft in Earth’s Orbit, Preparing to Study Magnetic Reconnection

03/13/2015 12:00 PM EDT

Following a successful launch at 10:44 p.m. EDT Thursday, NASA’s four Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft are positioned in Earth’s orbit to begin the first space mission dedicated to the study of a phenomenon called magnetic reconnection. This process is thought to be the catalyst for some of the most powerful explosions in our solar system.