TRACERS Testing & Integration at Millennium Space Systems

  • Released Thursday, April 24, 2025
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NASA’s Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites, or TRACERS, is embarking on its integration and testing campaign, during which all of the instruments and components will be added to the spacecraft structure, tested to ensure they will survive the harsh environments of launch and space, and made ready to execute its mission.

TRACERS will help understand magnetic reconnection and its effects in Earth’s atmosphere. Magnetic reconnection occurs when activity from the Sun interacts with Earth’s magnetic field. By understanding this process, scientists will be able to better understand and prepare for impacts of solar activity on Earth.

Below are clips of TRACERS’ testing and integration at the Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, California.

Learn more about the mission: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/tracers/

Photo: One of two TRACERS spacecraft is connected to the payload attach fitting (PAF) inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: One of two TRACERS spacecraft is connected to the payload attach fitting (PAF) inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.

Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: One of the TRACERS spacecraft is fitted with lift support equipment inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: One of the TRACERS spacecraft is fitted with lift support equipment inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.

Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: One of the TRACERS spacecraft is fitted with lift support equipment inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: One of the TRACERS spacecraft is fitted with lift support equipment inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.

Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: One of the TRACERS spacecraft is fitted with lift support equipment inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: One of the TRACERS spacecraft is fitted with lift support equipment inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.

Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: One of two TRACERS spacecraft completes spin testing inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA. The testing will ensure the spacecraft is balanced for flight.Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: One of two TRACERS spacecraft completes spin testing inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA. The testing will ensure the spacecraft is balanced for flight.

Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: One of two TRACERS spacecraft is prepared for spin testing inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA. Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: One of two TRACERS spacecraft is prepared for spin testing inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.

Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: One of two TRACERS spacecraft is prepared for spin testing inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: One of two TRACERS spacecraft is prepared for spin testing inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.

Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: One of two TRACERS spacecraft is prepared for spin testing inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: One of two TRACERS spacecraft is prepared for spin testing inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.

Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: In a clean room, the two TRACERS spacecraft sit side by side awaiting the addition of solar arrays at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: In a clean room, the two TRACERS spacecraft sit side by side awaiting the addition of solar arrays at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.

Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: The TRACERS spacecraft are prepared to be shipped to a new location where spin testing will take place at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: The TRACERS spacecraft are prepared to be shipped to a new location where spin testing will take place at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.

Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: The TRACERS spacecraft are prepared to be shipped to a new location where spin testing will take place at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: The TRACERS spacecraft are prepared to be shipped to a new location where spin testing will take place at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.

Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: The final internal payload is integrated to the spacecraft bus assembly inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems HQ in El Segundo, CA.Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: The final internal payload is integrated to the spacecraft bus assembly inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems HQ in El Segundo, CA.

Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: The final internal payload is integrated to the spacecraft bus assembly inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems HQ in El Segundo, CA.Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: The final internal payload is integrated to the spacecraft bus assembly inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems HQ in El Segundo, CA.

Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: The team working on TRACERS poses for a photo inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.Credit: Millennium Space Systems

Photo: The team working on TRACERS poses for a photo inside a clean room at Millennium Space Systems Small Satellite Factory in El Segundo, CA.

Credit: Millennium Space Systems

For More Information

See NASA.gov

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

This page was originally published on Thursday, April 24, 2025.
This page was last updated on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 3:39 PM EDT.