Swarm (spacecraft) - Payload

Payload

The payload of the three spacecraft consists of the following instruments:

• Vector Field Magnetometer (VFM): Linear and low-noise measurements of the Earth's magnetic field vector components. The fluxgate vector magnetometer is similar to the ones in the satellites Ørsted, CHAMP and SAC-C.
• Absolute Scalar Magnetometer (ASM): Calibration of the main instrument VFM.
• Electric Field Instrument (EFI): Measurement of ion density, drift velocity and electric field.
• Accelerometer (ACC): Measurement of non-gravitational accelerations like air-drag, winds, Earth albedo and solar radiation pressure.
• Laser Range Reflector (LRR): Reflecting quartz prisms as part of the satellite laser ranging network.