Specifically, it measured plasma and energetic particle intensities and vector magnetic fields, and facilitated tracking of the satellite velocity to high precision.

Each spacecraft carries five fully functioning science instruments that study solar wind, energetic particles, magnetic fields and radio waves as they cruise through this region.

Orbiting near the magnetic equator, these bodies serve as sources and sinks of magnetospheric plasma, while energetic particles from the magnetosphere alter their surfaces.

Energetic particles in the magnetosphere contribute to the aurora borealis and aurora australis.

During a major space weather event which includes a burst of solar energetic particles, the flux can increase by one to several orders of magnitude.