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The TRACERS mission will help scientists understand an explosive process called magnetic reconnection and its effects in Earth’s atmosphere. Magnetic reconnection occurs when magnetic fields and particles from the Sun interact 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, such as auroras and disruptions to telecommunications.

Below are clips of Millennium Space Systems’ team members conducting Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) testing at the Boeing Space Systems Laboratory in El Segundo, California.

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Credit: Millennium Space Systems

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Credit: Millennium Space Systems

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Credit: Millennium Space Systems

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Credit: Millennium Space Systems

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Credit: Millennium Space Systems

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Credit: Millennium Space Systems

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Credit: Millennium Space Systems

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You will also find the associated cut b-roll and pre-recorded soundbites below.Click here for more information about TRACERS || Live_Shot_Banner_TRACERS_final.jpg (1800x720) [256.8 KB] || Live_Shot_Banner_TRACERS_final_print.jpg (1024x409) [150.1 KB] || Live_Shot_Banner_TRACERS_final_searchweb.png (320x180) [82.8 KB] || Live_Shot_Banner_TRACERS_final_thm.png (80x40) [6.5 KB] || ", "release_date": "2025-07-17T09:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2025-07-16T14:34:14.307612-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1156904, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014800/a014863/David_Miles_University_of_Iowa_1.00001_print.jpg", "filename": "David_Miles_University_of_Iowa_1.00001_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Pre-recorded interview with David Miles / TRACERS Principal Investigator University of Iowa. TRT 6:04. Full transcript is available under the download button. SOTS are separated by a slate with the associated question. SOTs answer the following questions:1. NASA is getting ready to launch a new mission to study how space weather impacts Earth. Can you explain what space weather is?2. We have had several geomagnetic storms and beautiful auroras in the past year across the globe, especially last May. Can you explain how TRACERS will study these storms? 3. We keep hearing about magnetic reconnection and the charged particles that hit Earth. Can you help us visualize what's actually happening when these magnetic field lines snap and reconnect? (answer #1 and answer #2)4. TRACERS has two small satellites flying in tandem. Why was this mission designed to have two spacecraft instead of just one? (answer #1 and answer #2)5. Why is understanding space weather important for protecting our astronauts as well as technology in space and on the ground?6. Where can our viewers learn more?7. What makes TRACERS different from the other missions that study the Sun? 8. How will the data from TRACERS help us improve space weather forecasts?9. What are you most excited about with this mission?", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 20404, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20404/", "page_type": "Animation", "title": "TRACERS Science Animations", "description": "The TRACERS, or the Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites, mission will help scientists understand an explosive process called magnetic reconnection and its effects in Earth’s atmosphere. Magnetic reconnection occurs when magnetic fields and particles from the Sun interact 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, such as auroras and disruptions to telecommunications.Learn more about the mission: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/tracers/ || ", "release_date": "2025-06-02T12:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2025-07-02T13:53:16.455608-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1155490, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020400/a020404/TRACERS_S3_A_30fps_4k_proRes.00790_print.jpg", "filename": "TRACERS_S3_A_30fps_4k_proRes.00790_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "In this animation, the TRACERS spacecraft fly by the camera and enter the polar cusp, where the two spacecraft will make more than 3,000 measurements of dayside magnetic reconnection in the first year of the mission. Orange particles and shading represent an artistic rendering of what flying through the polar cusp would look like if the region was visible to the naked eye.", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 14827, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14827/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "TRACERS Instrument Development & Testing at the University of Iowa", "description": "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. The TRACERS mission will help scientists understand an explosive process called magnetic reconnection and its effects in Earth’s atmosphere. Magnetic reconnection occurs when magnetic fields and particles from the Sun interact 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, such as auroras and disruptions to telecommunications.Below are clips of TRACERS’ instrument design, build, and testing at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.Learn more about the mission: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/tracers/ || ", "release_date": "2025-04-24T15:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2025-04-23T09:54:44.701882-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1154631, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014800/a014827/14827_TRACERSUIowa_12_print.jpg", "filename": "14827_TRACERSUIowa_12_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Photo: Andrew Carton, TRACERS aerospace engineer, conducts final tests on the TRACERS instruments while they’re bolted onto the mock spacecraft “Flat Sat” in a clean room at Van Allen Hall at the University of Iowa, before the instrument suite was packed and shipped to Millennium Space Systems in California.Credit: University of Iowa / Tim Schoon", "width": 1024, "height": 682, "pixels": 698368 } }, { "id": 14828, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14828/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "TRACERS Testing & Integration at Millennium Space Systems", "description": "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. The TRACERS mission will help scientists understand an explosive process called magnetic reconnection and its effects in Earth’s atmosphere. Magnetic reconnection occurs when magnetic fields and particles from the Sun interact 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, such as auroras and disruptions to telecommunications.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/ || ", "release_date": "2025-04-24T15:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2025-04-24T15:39:33.272117-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1154698, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014800/a014828/14828_TRACERSMillenniumSpaceSystems_06_print.jpg", "filename": "14828_TRACERSMillenniumSpaceSystems_06_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "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", "width": 1024, "height": 682, "pixels": 698368 } }, { "id": 14805, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14805/", "page_type": "Animation", "title": "TRACERS Spacecraft Beauty Passes", "description": "The TRACERS, or the Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites, mission will help scientists understand an explosive process called magnetic reconnection and its effects in Earth’s atmosphere. Magnetic reconnection occurs when magnetic fields and particles from the Sun interact 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, such as auroras and disruptions to telecommunications.Learn more about the mission: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/tracers/ || ", "release_date": "2025-03-24T12:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2025-06-03T12:24:37-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1154340, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014800/a014805/TRACERSbeauty_Iowa_4K_ProRes.00001_print.jpg", "filename": "TRACERSbeauty_Iowa_4K_ProRes.00001_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Beauty Pass – 4KCredit: University of Iowa / Andy Kale", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } } ], "sources": [], "products": [ { "id": 14862, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14862/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "NASA’s TRACERS Studies Magnetic Explosions Above Earth", "description": "NASA's TRACERS mission, or the Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites, will fly in low Earth orbit through the polar cusps, funnel-shaped holes in the magnetic field, to study magnetic reconnection and its effects in Earth's atmosphere. Magnetic reconnection is a mysterious process that happens when the solar wind, made of electrically charged particles and magnetic fields from the Sun, collides with Earth's magnetic shield, causing magnetic field lines to violently snap and explosively fling away particles at high speeds. This process has huge impacts on Earth, from causing breathtaking auroras to disrupting communications and power grids on Earth. TRACERS is launching no earlier than summer 2025 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.Find out more about the TRACERS mission and how it will help us better understand the ways space weather affects us on Earth: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/tracers/ || ", "release_date": "2025-07-14T11:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2025-06-27T10:39:30.842035-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1156667, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014800/a014862/14862_TRACERSoverview_Thumbnail.jpg", "filename": "14862_TRACERSoverview_Thumbnail.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Produced VideoWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.Music Credit: \"Praxis I,” “Three Voices,” and “Die Vogel” by Alexis Francois Georges Delong [SACEM], “Anticipation” by Nicholas Smith [PRS], “Ocean Wisdom” by Hugo Dubery and Philippe Galtier [SACEM], and “Call from the Sea” by MACARON [SACEM] from Universal Production MusicAdditional Video and Animations: University of Iowa, Southwest Research Institute, Millennium Space Systems, Andøya Space / Trond AbrahamsenSound Effects: Pixabay", "width": 1280, "height": 720, "pixels": 921600 } } ], "newer_versions": [], "older_versions": [], "alternate_versions": [] }