NASA's EZIE Mission to Study Earth's Auroral Electrojets, Launching March 2025

NASA is launching the Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer (EZIE) mission in March 2025 to study auroral electrojets, powerful electric currents flowing high above Earth. These electrojets, exceeding one million amperes, influence space weather and disrupt communication signals. The mission involves deploying three CubeSats in a coordinated orbit to observe magnetic disturbances caused by the currents. Each CubeSat will carry a magnetometer to measure the strength and direction of the electric currents. EZIE aims to provide insights into the structure and behavior of electrojets, enhancing understanding of space weather phenomena. The mission will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, coinciding with the peak of the 11-year solar cycle.