NASA has announced it will move forward with the next phase of a mission led by Dartmouth College aimed at unraveling the complexities of energy circulation in Earth’s magnetosphere. This initiative, officially known as the Cross-Scale Investigation of Earth’s Magnetotail and Aurora (CINEMA), will receive approximately $28 million to enter a 10-month development phase, which will focus on planning and designing flight and mission operations. The announcement was made on December 11, 2023.
Funding and Objectives of the CINEMA Mission
CINEMA’s mission is to develop nine small spacecraft that will enhance NASA’s heliophysics mission fleet. The project will be overseen by Robyn Millan, who holds the title of Margaret Anne and Edward Leede ’49 Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Dartmouth. These spacecraft are intended to monitor and map the dynamic processes that govern the interaction between the sun and its planets, including Earth. If successful in advancing to the next stage, CINEMA is slated for launch no earlier than 2030.
The mission will involve collaboration among researchers from various institutions, with the operational management provided by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. Each of the nine spacecraft will be equipped with three specialized instruments designed to gather data on the structure and evolution of Earth’s plasma sheet. This plasma sheet, part of the magnetotail, plays a critical role in releasing energy that can lead to dramatic space weather phenomena, including auroras.
Scientific Significance and Innovative Approach
The innovative approach of CINEMA is characterized by its multi-spacecraft design, which aims to provide a comprehensive view of Earth’s magnetotail. “CINEMA’s innovative multi-spacecraft approach will give us a perspective on Earth’s magnetotail that we’ve never had before,” Millan stated. She emphasized that this unique perspective could lead to significant discoveries that would enhance our understanding of the Sun-Earth system.
The magnetotail stores vast amounts of energy, which it releases periodically. This release can manifest as spectacular auroras, such as the Northern Lights. The timing and manner of these energy releases remain largely enigmatic, and the CINEMA mission seeks to clarify these processes. “The CINEMA mission will help us to research magnetic convection in Earth’s magnetosphere—a critical piece of the puzzle in understanding why some space weather events are so influential,” said Joe Westlake, director of the Heliophysics Division at NASA Headquarters.
The project has been met with enthusiasm within the Dartmouth community. Ryan Hickox, chair and professor of physics and astronomy, expressed excitement about the opportunity for Dartmouth to lead such a significant initiative. “CINEMA will open a groundbreaking new window into the Earth’s magnetosphere and provide amazing opportunities for Dartmouth faculty, staff, and students to engage with cutting-edge NASA science,” he noted.
The Applied Physics Lab will not only manage the mission but will also design two of the three instruments for the spacecraft. The third instrument is being developed under Millan’s guidance by the Space Sciences Laboratory at the University of California and the Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory. Bobby Braun, head of APL’s Space Exploration Sector, highlighted the mission’s importance, stating, “CINEMA provides a critical tool to aid our understanding of space weather.”
With its ambitious goals and collaborative efforts, the CINEMA mission represents a significant step forward in heliophysics research, promising to shed light on the intricate interactions within Earth’s magnetosphere.
