Scientists at DTU Space have developed a magnetometer that can measure the size and direction of a planet’s magnetic field. The magnetometer has already been used aboard several missions to measure the Earth’s magnetic field and will be used on missions to Mars and Jupiter in the coming years.
The Institute’s magnetometer is the world’s most stabile and accurate magnetometer for measuring global magnetic fields from space.
The magnetometer has already been aboard several missions for the purpose of measuring Earth’s magnetic field, including the Danish Ørsted satellite. In the near future the magnetometer will join the European Swarm mission, which consists of three satellites whose objective is to measure the Earth’s magnetic field. A modified version of the magnetometer will also be aboard the European ExoMars mission, where it will measure the magnetic field on the surface of Mars.
Facts about the magnetometer
The magnetometer measures the direction and the size of global magnetic fields from space and is the most accurate and reliable of its kind in the world.
Magnetometers are used in geophysics, space and planetary physics.
Missions that have used the Danish magnetometer
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Astrid-2: Swedish mission 1998-1999
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Ørsted: Danish mission 1999-
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CHAMP: German mission 2000-
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SAC-C: Danish/Argentinean/American mission 2000- |