The mission will employ four spacecraft to make coordinated, high-resolution observations of fundamental plasma physical processes in Earth's magnetosphere, the region of space closest to the planet.

Magnetospheric Multiscale will be the fourth investigation in NASA's Solar Terrestrial Probes Program, which has been managed by Goddard for the Heliophysics Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

The STP program, part of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, was established to attempt to understand changes in the Sun and their effects on the solar system. Its primary objectives include launching multiple space platforms to conduct sustained solar studies.

Goddard's capabilities will allow integration of project management, science and engineering efforts, NASA said in a statement. The agency also will partner with other organizations along with the space center's engineering and scientific workforce.

NASA had selected the Southwest Research Institute, in San Antonio, Texas, in May 2005 to provide the instruments for the satellites.

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