THEMIS - ARTEMIS

The THEMIS and ARTEMIS satellite missions study the Sun-Earth connection. Space Weather describes the effects and potential hazards of the Sun's explosive energy near Earth, which can damage satellites and our ground electrical infrastructure. Solar storms are the visible eruptions at the Sun, whereas space weather effects near Earth are invisible yet extremely important to understand. Special satellites and instruments are needed to "see" the charged gases (plasmas) near our planet and study their behavior, from fueling the beautiful Northern Lights to causing destructive geomagnetic storms.

THEMIS consists of 3 identical probes orbiting near Earth that study electric and magnetic fields of plasmas in our protective magnetic bubble, or magnetosphere. ARTEMIS consists of 2 probes orbiting the moon (the first space weather mission to utilize this distant vantage point), providing the crucial big picture view to help understand the solar wind and its interactions with our magnetosphere.