MMS FPI: Plasma Distribution Moments from the Magnetosphere

NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale mission provides plasma distribution moments from its Fast Plasma Instrument. The Level 2 data aggregates onboard measurements to a 4.5-second resolution for survey mode analysis. This product includes integrated moments and additional parameters characterizing the instrument state.

Use Cases

• Analyzing plasma density and temperature based on integrated distribution moments
• Studying magnetospheric region transitions based on Fast and Slow Survey mode data
• Investigating instrument calibration effects on plasma measurements
• Modeling particle behavior in Earth's radiation belts using annotated time stamps

Strengths

• Data originates from NASA's authoritative Magnetospheric Multiscale mission
• Provides plasma moments at a 4.5-second resolution for Fast Survey mode

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• Data format is BIN, requiring specialized tools for access

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Data collected by the Fast Plasma Instrument onboard the Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft, aggregated onboard.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 08:35:22.487057; freshness should be verified

Geography

Magnetospheric regions, including the Mission Region Of Interest.