missions

Swarm

Missions → CHAMP

Swarm is an ESA Earth Explorer three-satellite constellation launched on 22 November 2013 to measure Earth's geomagnetic field and near-Earth electric environment.^[1] The constellation consists of three identical satellites commonly identified as Swarm Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie.^[2]

Each Swarm spacecraft carries a Vector Field Magnetometer and an Absolute Scalar Magnetometer, along with electric-field, acceleration, positioning, star-tracker, and laser retroreflector equipment.^[1] The mission launched from Plesetsk on Rockot with a Breeze-KM upper stage.^[3] SWARM-A remained operational in the 2 February 2026 WMO status record; because the programme exceeded its four-year design life, the catalogue lifecycle is extended as of 8 June 2026.^[4]

Supply chain position

carries instrument Swarm Vector Field Magnetometer

carries instrument Swarm Absolute Scalar Magnetometer

operated by European Space Agency

launched on Rockot with Breeze-KM upper stage

produces data product Swarm Level 2 Magnetic Field Models

predecessor of CHAMP

related to Swarm Level 2 Processor

Satellite magnetometry → demonstrated Swarm Vector Field Magnetometer

Satellite magnetometry → demonstrated Swarm Absolute Scalar Magnetometer

Sources

[1]Swarm facts and figures, ESAagency doc2026-06-08
[2]WMO OSCAR SWARM satellite programmeagency doc2026-06-08
[3]Swarm about the launch, ESAagency doc2026-06-08
[4]WMO OSCAR SWARM-A satellite detailsagency doc2026-06-08

Cite https://eo-atlas.org/missions/swarm Markdown twin → Field definitions → Suggest a correction →

How to cite this page

Plain text

Swarm. EO-Atlas, SpectraWorks B.V. https://eo-atlas.org/missions/swarm (CC BY 4.0)

BibTeX

@misc{eoatlas:missions:swarm,
  title = {Swarm},
  author = {{EO-Atlas}},
  publisher = {SpectraWorks B.V.},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
  url = {https://eo-atlas.org/missions/swarm}
}