1st High-resolution Measurements Interplanetary shock

Question: Magnetospheric Multiscale mission (MMS) of NASA has recently taken 1st high-resolution measurements of an interplanetary shock event originated in the?
(a) Jupiter
(b) Sun
(c) Saturn
(d) Mars
Answer: (b)
Related facts:

  • Magnetospheric Multiscale mission (MMS) has obtained 1st high-resolution measurements of an interplanetary shock event. The MMS mission measured the shock with fast and high-resolution instruments including the Fast Plasma Investigation (FPI).
  • The findings have been published, in August 2019, in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics.
  • FPI can measure ions and electrons around the spacecraft at up to 6 times per second.
  • It should be noted that these shocks are originated from the Sun which continually releases streams of charged particles called the solar wind.
  • According to the researchers Solar winds are of two types, slow and fast. When a fast stream of solar wind overtakes a slower stream, it creates a shock wave.
  • These shocks are not only the phenomenon found on the Sun but in every part of the Universe, including in supernovae, black holes, and distant stars.
  • It occurs when particles transfer energy through electromagnetic fields instead of directly bouncing into one another.
  • The advantage is that these shocks provide ideal situation for understanding about larger universal phenomena.

Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS):-

  • In March 2015 to study Earth’s magnetosphere US space agency NASA launched robotic space mission known by the name Magnetospheric Multiscale mission (MMS) .
  • MMS comprises of 4 identical spacecraft, which fly in a tight formation that allows for the 3D (3-Dimensional) mapping of space.

Links:
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2019/nasa-s-mms-finds-first-interplanetary-shock/
https://phys.org/news/2019-08-nasa-mms-interplanetary.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetospheric_Multiscale_Mission