The NASA-funded TRACERS mission involves two satellites launched to measure plasma conditions in polar cusps, which are crucial for understanding auroras and geomagnetic storms. These areas of Earth's magnetic field influence space weather that can disrupt GPS navigation, communications, and power grids. Previous extreme geomagnetic storms have caused substantial economic losses, emphasizing the mission's significance. Insights into solar activity and its impact on Earth are vital for mitigating risks associated with space weather phenomena and enhancing safety in technological operations.
The twin spacecraft are part of the NASA-funded TRACERS mission, which will spend at least a year measuring plasma conditions in narrow regions of Earth's magnetic field known as polar cusps.
These regions are located over the poles and play an important but poorly understood role in creating colorful auroras as plasma streaming out from the Sun interacts with the magnetic field surrounding Earth.
An extreme geomagnetic storm last year degraded GPS navigation signals, resulting in more than $500 million in economic losses in the agriculture sector as farms temporarily suspended spring planting.
Understanding our Sun and the space weather it produces is more important to us here on Earth, I think, than most realize.
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