 |  | | | | THEMIS Pre-Launch Briefing Materials
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01.17.06
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Introduction:
NASA's Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) aims to resolve one of the oldest mysteries in space physics, namely to determine what physical process in near-Earth space initiates the violent eruptions of the aurora that occur during substorms in the Earth's magnetosphere. THEMIS is a 2-year mission consisting of 5 identical probes that will study the violent colorful eruptions of Auroras.
Understanding and predicting space weather is important to describe the environment in which spacecraft and astronauts operate and ensure their safety. Just as hail and tornadoes accompany the most severe thunderstorms, substorms accompany the most intense space storms - those that disrupt communications, cause power line transmission failures, and produce the most penetrating radiation. THEMIS will study substorms to gain insight into the most severe space storms.
Panelists:
+ Craig Pollock, NASA HQ Program Scientist
+ Vassilis Angelopoulos, THEMIS Principle Investigator
+ Peter Harvey, THEMIS Project Manager
+ Jim Slavin, NASA Heliophysics Division
Resources:
Contact Information:
Cynthia O'Carroll
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
301-286-4647
Cynthia.M.OCarroll@nasa.gov
Rani Gran
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
Phone: 301/286-2483/8955
Rani.C.Gran@nasa.gov
Event Information:
NASA will host a media teleconference to discuss the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) mission on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 1 p.m. EST.
Reporters should call 888-455-0031 and use the passcode "THEMIS" to participate in the teleconference. International media should call +1-210-234-0007. Audio of the teleconference will be streamed live at:
http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio
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