Awaiting ESA’s decision in June: IRF teams behind two mission concepts

As the European Space Agency approaches its final decision on the M7 mission, scientists at Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) continue to play a central role in two of the finalist mission concepts.

On April 22, representatives from IRF Uppsala were present at ESA headquarters, where they presented and took part in discussions on both the M-MATISSE and Plasma Observatory mission concepts.

Pictured are David Andrews, member of the M-MATISSE ESA Science Study Team, Yuri Khotyaintsev and Cecilia Norgren, members of the Plasma Observatory ESA Science Study Team.

After five years of intensive work, all three M7 mission concepts have matured into exceptionally strong candidates. Our team at IRF Uppsala has played a key role in shaping the science case and developing scientific instrument contributions for both Plasma Observatory and M-MATISSE. I would like to thank the scientists and engineers involved for their outstanding efforts. We now look ahead to ESA’s decision in June, keeping our fingers crossed for the selection of a plasma-focused mission," says Professor Yuri Khotyaintsev.