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Esa's satellite Swarm launch to map Earth's magnetism Esa's satellite Swarm launch to map Earth's magnetism
(35 minutes later)
The Swarm mission to map the Earth's global magnetic field in unprecedented detail has launched from Russia.The Swarm mission to map the Earth's global magnetic field in unprecedented detail has launched from Russia.
The trio of European Space Agency (Esa) satellites left the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 12:02 GMT, riding a Rockot vehicle.The trio of European Space Agency (Esa) satellites left the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 12:02 GMT, riding a Rockot vehicle.
They were deployed at an altitude of 490km, in a polar orbit, 91 minutes later.They were deployed at an altitude of 490km, in a polar orbit, 91 minutes later.
Swarm's data should help scientists understand better how the field is generated, and why it appears to be weakening.Swarm's data should help scientists understand better how the field is generated, and why it appears to be weakening.
The strength has fallen by some 15% in the past two centuries. The movement of the north geomagnetic pole has also accelerated.The strength has fallen by some 15% in the past two centuries. The movement of the north geomagnetic pole has also accelerated.
Researchers have speculated that Earth may be on the cusp of a polarity reversal, which would see the direction of the field flip end to end. North would become south, and vice versa.Researchers have speculated that Earth may be on the cusp of a polarity reversal, which would see the direction of the field flip end to end. North would become south, and vice versa.
This has not happened for 780,000 years, but the phenomenon has nonetheless been a regular occurrence through geological time.This has not happened for 780,000 years, but the phenomenon has nonetheless been a regular occurrence through geological time.
"You could say we're overdue," said Prof Eigil Friis-Christensen, lead proposer on the mission and a former director of Denmark's National Space Institute.
"We talk about the weakening of the global field but in some local areas, such as in the South Atlantic, the field has gone down 10% in just the last 20 years. But we do not know whether we will go into a reversal or whether the global field will recover," he told BBC News.
The major part of Earth's global magnetic field is generated by convection of molten iron within the planet's outer liquid core, but there are other components that contribute to the overall signal.The major part of Earth's global magnetic field is generated by convection of molten iron within the planet's outer liquid core, but there are other components that contribute to the overall signal.
These include the magnetism retained in rocks, and there is even an effect derived from the movement of salt water ocean currents.These include the magnetism retained in rocks, and there is even an effect derived from the movement of salt water ocean currents.
Swarm will attempt to tease apart these various factors, to get a clearer picture of the field's true origins and its changing behaviour.Swarm will attempt to tease apart these various factors, to get a clearer picture of the field's true origins and its changing behaviour.
Other uses of the Swarm data will include investigations of the electrical environment of the high atmosphere and the way this interacts with the solar wind - the continuous stream of charged particles billowing away from the Sun.Other uses of the Swarm data will include investigations of the electrical environment of the high atmosphere and the way this interacts with the solar wind - the continuous stream of charged particles billowing away from the Sun.
The wind carries its own magnetic field which clashes with Earth's, producing "storms" that can on occasion disrupt satellites, radio communications and even electricity grids at the planet's surface.The wind carries its own magnetic field which clashes with Earth's, producing "storms" that can on occasion disrupt satellites, radio communications and even electricity grids at the planet's surface.
A successful launch was confirmed when the satellites separated from the Rockot's Breeze upper-stage. Signals confirming their good health was acquired for two of the spacecraft by a ground station in Kiruna, Sweden. The third platform was detected by a station in the Arctic Svalbard archipelago.A successful launch was confirmed when the satellites separated from the Rockot's Breeze upper-stage. Signals confirming their good health was acquired for two of the spacecraft by a ground station in Kiruna, Sweden. The third platform was detected by a station in the Arctic Svalbard archipelago.
This information was relayed to Esa's mission control centre in Darmstadt in Germany, where the operation of the satellites will be managed.This information was relayed to Esa's mission control centre in Darmstadt in Germany, where the operation of the satellites will be managed.
All three satellites in the Swarm constellation are identical. Their super-sensitive instrumentation acts rather like a 3D compass, enabling the precise strength and direction of the magnetic field to be determined all around the globe.All three satellites in the Swarm constellation are identical. Their super-sensitive instrumentation acts rather like a 3D compass, enabling the precise strength and direction of the magnetic field to be determined all around the globe.
The trio's construction was led by the Astrium company, predominantly in Germany and the UK.The trio's construction was led by the Astrium company, predominantly in Germany and the UK.
Engineers have had to ensure the magnetism generated by the satellites' own internal electronics does not obscure the subtle scientific measurements the mission will be attempting to make.Engineers have had to ensure the magnetism generated by the satellites' own internal electronics does not obscure the subtle scientific measurements the mission will be attempting to make.
This has meant putting the instruments on the end of a long boom to keep them separate from the main spacecraft body. It has given Swarm a very distinctive look - like giant mechanical rats with long tails.This has meant putting the instruments on the end of a long boom to keep them separate from the main spacecraft body. It has given Swarm a very distinctive look - like giant mechanical rats with long tails.
A key moment in the coming hours will be the deployment of the booms. Stowed for launch, the instrument tails will have be opened for there to be an operational mission.A key moment in the coming hours will be the deployment of the booms. Stowed for launch, the instrument tails will have be opened for there to be an operational mission.
"The first boom will open a few hours after launch," explained Andy Jones, the Astrium UK Swarm project manager."The first boom will open a few hours after launch," explained Andy Jones, the Astrium UK Swarm project manager.
"Each one is held in place by a nut, which will release the boom and allow it to swing open. Springs will initially pull the boom well past the hinge line, and it will waggle back and forth until eventually settling down. The waggling lasts about a minute and a half.""Each one is held in place by a nut, which will release the boom and allow it to swing open. Springs will initially pull the boom well past the hinge line, and it will waggle back and forth until eventually settling down. The waggling lasts about a minute and a half."
The Darmstadt space operations team hopes to have all three booms open by early Saturday.The Darmstadt space operations team hopes to have all three booms open by early Saturday.
Swarm is the latest satellite in Esa's Earth Explorer series. Missions have already flown to measure Earth's gravity field, its ice cover, the salinity of its oceans and the moisture retained in its soils.Swarm is the latest satellite in Esa's Earth Explorer series. Missions have already flown to measure Earth's gravity field, its ice cover, the salinity of its oceans and the moisture retained in its soils.
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmosJonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos