Initially all satellites are released from a single launcher and satellite manoeuvring during the commissioning phase of the mission results in the specified constellation at the beginning of the operational phase. This consists of a side-by-side flying pair of satellites at an initial altitude of about 460 km and thereafter slowly decaying. These are complemented by a third satellite that starts in an orbit at 530 km altitude that drifts away from the lower pair over time. High-precision and high-resolution measurements of the strength, direction and variation of the magnetic field, complemented by precise navigation, accelerometer and electric field measurements, will provide the observations that are required to separate and model various sources of the geomagnetic field (core, mantle, lithosphere) and near-Earth current systems (ionosphere, magnetosphere). The actual mission status will be the main focus during the presentation.
Swarm constellation (Credits: ESA/AOES Medialab)
