BackForwardInstrument:  SCM (MMS) 

Instrument details
Acronym SCM (MMS)
Full name Search Coil Magnetometer
Purpose To measure the magnetic field for use with the ADP and SDP instruments to determine the contribution of plasma waves to the turbulent dissipation that occurs in the diffusion region
Short description

3-axis magnetometer to measure oscillations in the range 0.0001-6 kHz
Background

Part of a package of instruments to implement the SMART (Solving Magnetospheric Acceleration, Reconnection, and Turbulence) mission
Scanning Technique

4 satellites co-flying in tetrehedral pattern, moving to different positions into the Magnetosphere for 3-D field reconstruction
Resolution N/A
Coverage / Cycle Full magnetospheric volume
Mass Power Data Rate

 

Providing Agency CNES
Instrument Maturity Backed by strong heritage
Utilization Period: 2015 to 2025
Last update: 2025-12-15
Detailed characteristics
Satellites this instrument is flying on

Note: a red tag indicates satellites no longer operational, a green tag indicates operational satellites, a blue tag indicates future satellites

Instrument classification
  • Solar and space environment monitors
  • Field or radiowave sensor
WIGOS Subcomponents
  • Subcomponent 2
  • Magnetospheric energetic particles and magnetometers
  • Geomagnetic field sensor [in LEO and cross magnetosphere]
Mission objectives
Primary mission objectives
  • Electron Density
  • Ionospheric plasma density
Evaluation of Measurements

The following list indicates which measurements can typically be retrieved from this category of instrument. To see a full Gap Analysis by Variable, click on the respective variable.

Note: table can be sorted by clicking on the column headers
Note: * Primary mission objective.
VariableRelevance for measuring this variableOperational limitationsExplanation
Geomagnetic field5 - marginalNo specific limitation.Magnetic field measured through observation of oscillations of the magnetic field
Electric Field3 - highNo specific limitation.Electric field measured by magnetic field oscillations
Ionospheric plasma density*2 - very highNo specific limitation.Ionospheric plasma density measured through observation of oscillations of the magnetic field
Electron Density*3 - highNo specific limitation.Electron density measured through observation of oscillations of the magnetic field