ESA title

The mission

ESA’s three-satellite Swarm mission is dedicated to unravelling one of the most mysterious aspects of our planet: the magnetic field. Although invisible, the magnetic field and electric currents in and around Earth generate complex forces that have immeasurable impact on everyday life. By analysing the different characteristics of the observed field, Swarm will lead to new insight into many natural processes, from those occurring deep inside the planet to weather in space caused by solar activity.

The launch

Date: 22 November 2013
Site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia
Launcher: Rockot

Swarm
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Swarm detects tidal signatures of our oceans

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Swarm constellation
Enabling & Support

Swarm vs. space radiation – the first 10 years

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Steve’s twin captured by an all-sky digital camera
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Swarm helps discover Steve's long-lost twin

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Aurora near Frankfurt, Germany, May 2024
Space Safety

The May 2024 solar storm: your questions answered

17/05/2024 22751 views 61 likes
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Solar flare captured by ESA’s Proba-2 SWAP
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SMOS and Swarm team up to spot huge solar storm

26/03/2024 22295 views 23 likes
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Applications

10 remarkable Earth facts

18/04/2023 520412 views 2664 likes
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Magnetic field sound waves
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The scary sound of Earth’s magnetic field

24/10/2022 136435 views 398 likes
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Artist's view of Swarm
Space Safety

Swarm dodges collision during climb to escape Sun’s wrath

14/07/2022 26736 views 181 likes
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Swarm reveals magnetic waves across Earth’s outer core
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Swarm unveils magnetic waves deep down

23/05/2022 9881 views 104 likes
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Earth's protective shield
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Swarm and Cluster get to the bottom of geomagnetic storms

15/12/2021 7031 views 116 likes
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Greater white-fronted geese
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Swarm yields new insight into animal migration

09/07/2021 8982 views 118 likes
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Sprites seen over the Czech Republic and detected by Swarm
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The curious incident of Swarm and sprites in the night-time

18/05/2021 7418 views 161 likes
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Magnetic data show links Antarctica to ancient neighbours
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Antarctica’s magnetic link to ancient neighbours

09/03/2021 12253 views 143 likes
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Energy from solar wind favours the north
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Energy from solar wind favours the north

12/01/2021 9455 views 141 likes
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Swarm probes weakening of Earth’s magnetic field

20/05/2020 229168 views 708 likes
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Swirling iron
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Magnetic north and the elongating blob

14/05/2020 27891 views 225 likes
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Applications

Steve over the picket fence

27/11/2019 9682 views 55 likes
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3D Earth in the making

15/05/2019 14318 views 115 likes
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Tug-of-war drives magnetic north sprint

15/05/2019 18800 views 207 likes
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Simulation of the magnetic field in Earth’s core
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Swarm helps explain Earth’s magnetic jerks

01/05/2019 16959 views 265 likes
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Cloud-free Europe
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New observations for the new economy

08/03/2019 10438 views 89 likes
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Magnetic north on the move
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Swarm helps pinpoint new magnetic north for smartphones

08/02/2019 15220 views 240 likes
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Electric nature
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Swarm turns to whistlers and storms

13/04/2018 5385 views 86 likes
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Applications

Swarm tracks elusive ocean magnetism

10/04/2018 16026 views 116 likes
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Steve
Applications

Getting to know Steve

16/03/2018 15261 views 181 likes
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Applications

Swarm trio becomes a quartet

22/02/2018 8404 views 87 likes
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Earth's protective shield
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Swarm details energetic coupling

15/02/2018 5046 views 83 likes
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Meet Steve
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When Swarm met Steve

21/04/2017 43835 views 300 likes
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Birkeland currents
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Supersonic plasma jets discovered

23/03/2017 39667 views 313 likes
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Seasonal asymmetry
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Swarm detects asymmetry

22/03/2017 6338 views 81 likes
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Applications

Unravelling Earth’s magnetic field

21/03/2017 41554 views 286 likes
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Artist's view of Swarm
Enabling & Support

Anatomy of a debris incident

01/02/2017 9529 views 55 likes
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Jet stream in Earth’s core
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There’s a jet stream in our core

19/12/2016 42155 views 418 likes
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GPS interruptions
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Swarm reveals why satellites lose track

28/10/2016 18553 views 231 likes
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Applications

Magnetic oceans and electric Earth

03/10/2016 16528 views 159 likes
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Applications

Earth’s magnetic heartbeat

10/05/2016 55033 views 317 likes
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Core and crust from Swarm
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Magnetic complexity begins to untangle

22/06/2015 16053 views 120 likes
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Magnetic field changes
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Swarm reveals Earth’s changing magnetism

19/06/2014 134299 views 336 likes
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Swarm magnetic field compared to model
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Swarm’s precise sense of magnetism

07/05/2014 9564 views 75 likes
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Applications

Swarm heads for new heights

06/02/2014 7842 views 80 likes
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Enabling & Support

End of the beginning for Swarm trio

26/11/2013 7026 views 81 likes
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Applications

Swarm constellation deploys booms

23/11/2013 6736 views 56 likes
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Applications

ESA’s Swarm trio on its way to watch over our planet’s magn…

22/11/2013 10899 views 47 likes
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Applications

Swarm ready for launch

22/11/2013 3258 views 28 likes
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Swarm upper composite hoisted to the top of the service tower
Enabling & Support

Swarm launch timeline

21/11/2013 3007 views 10 likes
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Swarm mission team in training
Enabling & Support

Swarm mission control ready for triple launch

19/11/2013 6644 views 42 likes
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Swarm upper composite hoisted to the top of the service tower
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Swarm on the launch pad

18/11/2013 6757 views 65 likes
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Separated by a few centimetres
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Satellites packed like sardines

08/11/2013 9975 views 61 likes
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Three in a row
Applications

Swarm launch postponed

30/10/2013 8910 views 63 likes
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Three in a row
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Magnetic field mission fuelled for launch

16/10/2013 3364 views 43 likes
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