The Swarm satellite trio. Photo: ESA

[Via Satellite 11-25-13] The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Swarm satellite mission has been successfully launched from a Rockot launch vehicle at Russia’s Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 1:02 p.m. CET on Friday, Nov. 22nd. All three identical satellites were placed on their orbits approximately 92 minutes after launching. Astrium is the prime contractor for ESA’s Swarm satellite trio.  Astrium developed and built the satellites and Eurockot Launch Services, an Astrium subsidiary, carried out the launch.

Over a period of at least four years, the Swarm mission will measure the Earth’s magnetic field and its development. The findings will improve understanding of the Earth’s interior and how it interacts with space.