Launched in November 2013, the ESA Earth Explorer Swarm satellite trio has provided, for one solar cycle, continuous accurate measurements of the magnetic field, accompanied by plasma and electric field measurements, precise navigation, and accelerometer observations.
The polar-orbiting Swarm satellites are augmented with absolute magnetic scalar and vector data from the low-inclination Macau Science Satellite 1 (MSS-1, since May 2023, 41° inclination, covering all Local Times within 2 months) and with absolute scalar field measurements from the CSES satellite (since 2018, fixed 02/14 LT near-polar orbit) which significantly extend the data coverage in space and time.
In addition, the ESA Scout NanoMagSat constellation consisting of one near-polar and two 60° inclination satellites, is now also in the pipeline, with a sequence of launches planned to start at the end of 2027 for full operation in 2028. It will acquire absolute vector magnetic data at 1 Hz, very low noise scalar and vector magnetic field data at 2 kHz, electron density data at 2 kHz and electron temperature data at 1 Hz. It will also acquire navigation data, enabling top-side TEC retrieval, and collect ionospheric radio-occultation profiles.
This session invites contributions on investigations in geomagnetism, ionospheric and thermospheric sciences related to Earth and near-Earth processes, with focus on existing and planned Low-Earth-Orbiting satellites. Combined analyses of satellite- and ground-based or model data are welcome.