Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites

Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS) is a orbiter mission tasked to study the origins of the solar wind and how it affects Earth. TRACERS was proposed by Craig A. Kletzing at the University of Iowa who served as Principal Investigator until his death in 2023. David M. Miles at the University of Iowa was named as Principal Investigator in his stead. The TRACERS mission received US$115 million in funding from NASA.

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2025 Website,  Wikimedia, Wikidata
SMEX-16; TRACERS
space mission, Falcon 9 Block 5, 
File:Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS). Artist's view -660-2.jpg

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Location: KML, Cluster Map, Maps,

2025-07-23T00:00:00Z

2025-07-23T00:00:00Z

2025 Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites

2025-07-23T00:00:00Z

2025-07-23T00:00:00Z

rocket launch

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Frameless

Illustration of the TRACERS satellites in space. TRACERS will fly through the Earth’s magnetic cusp to study magnetic interactions between Earth and the solar wind.

TRACERS Instrument Development & Testing at the University of Iowa (SVS14827 TRACERSUIowa 02)

TRACERS Instrument Development & Testing at the University of Iowa (SVS14827 TRACERSUIowa 14)

Photo: Jasper Halekas, Analyzer for Cusp Electrons (ACE) instrument lead, checks data during final calibration testing – which took place in the chamber on the left – for the ACE instrument at Van Allen Hall at the University of Iowa.

TRACERS Instrument Development & Testing at the University of Iowa (SVS14827 TRACERSUIowa 08)

TRACERS Instrument Development & Testing at the University of Iowa (SVS14827 TRACERSUIowa 15)

Photo: “Flat Sat,” a full-scale mockup of the TRACERS spacecraft, is used by TRACERS scientists at the University of Iowa to help precisely arrange the instruments onboard the spacecraft. Credit: University of Iowa / Tim Schoon

TRACERS Instrument Development & Testing at the University of Iowa (SVS14827 TRACERSUIowa 06)

TRACERS Instrument Development & Testing at the University of Iowa (SVS14827 TRACERSUIowa 13)

Photo: TRACERS’ main electronics box will act as the communications center for the spacecraft’s six onboard instruments.

Type	Subtype	Date	Description	Notes	Source
commons	image		Illustration of the TRACERS satellites in space. TRACERS will fly through the Earth’s magnetic cusp to study magnetic interactions between Earth and the solar wind.		Commons
commons	image		TRACERS Instrument Development & Testing at the University of Iowa (SVS14827 TRACERSUIowa 02)		Commons
commons	image		TRACERS Instrument Development & Testing at the University of Iowa (SVS14827 TRACERSUIowa 14)		Commons
commons	image		Photo: Jasper Halekas, Analyzer for Cusp Electrons (ACE) instrument lead, checks data during final calibration testing – which took place in the chamber on the left – for the ACE instrument at Van Allen Hall at the University of Iowa.		Commons
commons	image		TRACERS Instrument Development & Testing at the University of Iowa (SVS14827 TRACERSUIowa 08)		Commons
commons	image		TRACERS Instrument Development & Testing at the University of Iowa (SVS14827 TRACERSUIowa 15)		Commons
commons	image		Photo: “Flat Sat,” a full-scale mockup of the TRACERS spacecraft, is used by TRACERS scientists at the University of Iowa to help precisely arrange the instruments onboard the spacecraft. Credit: University of Iowa / Tim Schoon		Commons
commons	image		TRACERS Instrument Development & Testing at the University of Iowa (SVS14827 TRACERSUIowa 06)		Commons
commons	image		TRACERS Instrument Development & Testing at the University of Iowa (SVS14827 TRACERSUIowa 13)		Commons
commons	image		Photo: TRACERS’ main electronics box will act as the communications center for the spacecraft’s six onboard instruments.		Commons