ESA Science & Technology - Plasma - a view from space

Publication date: 03 April 2007

Authors: Nykyri, K.

Journal: Physics World
Year: 2007

Copyright: IOP Publishing Ltd

In the April issue of Physics World, Katariina Nykyri reveals how the European Space Agency's Cluster mission, which consists of four identical satellites flying in an elliptical polar orbit around the Earth, has been providing physicists with a 3D map of the structure and dynamics of the plasma surrounding the Earth. Such data could improve our understanding of geomagnetic storms and could even make fusion energy a reality.