Millennium Spacecraft for NASA TRACERS Mission Moves to Testing Phase

Core Insights - Millennium Space Systems has completed two spacecraft for NASA's TRACERS mission, which aims to study the connection between solar wind and Earth's magnetic field [1][2] - The TRACERS mission is crucial for understanding space weather, which has significant implications for national security and satellite operations [1][2] - The spacecraft will conduct on-orbit operations in a sun-synchronous orbit, focusing on the polar cusp region of Earth's magnetic field [2][3] Company Overview - Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing company, specializes in high-performance small satellite solutions for National Security Space, with a focus on rapid delivery and vertical integration [5] - The company was founded in 2001 and has established active production lines that enable it to deliver small satellites across various missions and orbits, including LEO, MEO, and GEO [5] Mission Details - The TRACERS mission is led by the University of Iowa and managed by the Southwest Research Institute, with oversight from NASA's Heliophysics Explorers Program Office [4] - The mission's instrument suite includes five different instruments from four institutions, designed to study magnetic reconnection and cusp electrodynamics [3] - The data collected will enhance the understanding of Earth's magnetosphere and improve forecasting of space weather events, which can impact technology and infrastructure on Earth [3]