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arXiv · 2507.09722

Compression and Reconnection Investigations of the MagnetoPause (CRIMP): A Mission Concept to Uncover the Impact of Mesoscale Reconnection and Plasma Outflow Processes at the Dayside Magnetopause

Jason M. H. Beedle·Bryan C. Cline·Samuel T. Badman·Humberto Caldelas II·Kelly Cantwell·Alex Hoffmann·Christian Hofmann·India Jackson·Tre'Shunda James·Miguel Martinez-Ledesma·Bruno Mattos·Brett A. McCuen·Sophie R. Phillips·Bryan Reynolds·Julie Rolla·Orlando M. Romeo·Frances A. Staples·Michael J. Starkey·Olga P. Verkhoglyadova·Andres Romero-Wolf·Alfred E. Nash
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Abstract

The Compression and Reconnection Investigations of the Magnetopause (CRIMP) mission is a hypothesis-driven, Heliophysics Medium-Class Explorer (MIDEX) Announcement of Opportunity (AO) mission concept designed to study mesoscale structures and particle outflow along Earth's magnetopause using two identical spacecraft. CRIMP is designed to uncover the impact of magnetosheath mesoscale drivers, dayside magnetopause mesoscale phenomenological processes and structures, and localized plasma outflows on magnetic reconnection and the energy transfer process in the dayside magnetosphere. CRIMP accomplishes this through uniquely phased spacecraft configurations that allow multipoint, contemporaneous measurements at the magnetopause. This enables an unparalleled look at mesoscale spatial differences along the dayside magnetopause on the scale of 1-3 Earth Radii (Re). Through these measurements, CRIMP will uncover how local mass density enhancements affect global reconnection, how mesoscale structures drive magnetopause dynamics, and if the magnetopause acts as a perfectly absorbing boundary for radiation belt electrons. This allows CRIMP to determine the spatial scale size, extent, and temporal evolution of energy and mass transfer processes at the magnetopause - crucial measurements to determine how the solar wind energy input to the magnetosphere is transmitted between regions and across scales.

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Jason M. H. Beedle, Bryan C. Cline, Samuel T. Badman, Humberto Caldelas II, Kelly Cantwell, Alex Hoffmann, Christian Hofmann, India Jackson, Tre'Shunda James, Miguel Martinez-Ledesma, Bruno Mattos, Brett A. McCuen, Sophie R. Phillips, Bryan Reynolds, Julie Rolla, Orlando M. Romeo, Frances A. Staples, Michael J. Starkey, Olga P. Verkhoglyadova, Andres Romero-Wolf, Alfred E. Nash. 2026-08-06. Compression and Reconnection Investigations of the MagnetoPause (CRIMP): A Mission Concept to Uncover the Impact of Mesoscale Reconnection and Plasma Outflow Processes at the Dayside Magnetopause. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2026.08.002

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