Understand the structure, composition, variability and dynamics of Mars’ unique hybrid magnetosphere.
Atmospheric escape processes: ion escape and sputtering escape help drive climate evolution of terrestrial planets.
MAVEN paints “average picture” of a dynamic magnetosphere
A single measurement platform leaves major questions unanswered:
Spatial and temporal variations in escape fluxes cannot be distinguished.
Responses of escape fluxes and other dynamics to changing solar wind conditions (~1 minute) can only be measured with a time-lag of an hour or (much) more.
The same problem faced terrestrial space plasma physics in the 1980s, early 1990s.
Single spacecraft couldn’t characterize plasma boundary dynamics.
Multiple spacecraft allowed the 3D, time-resolved measurements to create a realistic picture of the magnetosphere and how solar wind conditions affect it.
