Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company, prepared two space vehicles for NASA’s Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS) mission to Vandenberg Space Force Base Friday. The transfer accomplishment is a critical step in meeting the launch date later this year. The actual launch window is set to open in Summer 2025.
The space vehicles, which completed tests, including environmental, mechanical and systems verification, will be traveling through Earth’s polar cusp region over the north and south magnetic poles. The vehicles will determine the connection between solar wind and the magnetic field around Earth.
In an official statement regarding the mission, TRACERS program manager, Millennium Space Systems described the significance of the mission:
‘Millennium is incredibly proud of our team and partners at the University of Iowa, Southwest Research Institute, and NASA, for reaching this milestone and getting TRACERS to the launch site,’ said Richard Prasad, TRACERS program manager, Millennium Space Systems. ‘Progressing to final integration at launch site showcases the confidence from all parties that both the TRACERS space vehicles and the Millennium Mission Operations Center (MOC) are ready for launch and the start of operations. We’re all excited to see TRACERS on-orbit.’
The mission will study space weather and determine its multiple affects on critical technologies such as satellites, communications networks and power grids. The mission’s goak will not only further scientific understanding and future space weather forecasting, but bolster space resilience and readiness with national defense objectives.
About Millennium Space Systems
Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company founded in 2001, is a small satellite prime, delivering high-performance constellation solutions for National Security Space. The company’s active production lines and 80% vertical integration enable the rapid delivery of small satellites across missions and orbits – LEO, MEO and GEO.
