Earth’s magnetosphere

Abstract

The magnetosphere was discovered in the early years of the space era. Magnetospheric physics became the first new scientific discipline conceived in the space age, although it was in the beginning called space plasma physics, auroral physics, or ionospheric physics, as the concept magnetosphere did not exist yet. Auroral and ionospheric physics were important items in the research program of the ‘International Geophysical Year’ (IGY), which, after long preparations, was implemented in the 18 months starting on 1 July 1957 and thereafter was followed up in a number of international research programs. Being the largest international co-operative research program ever, it resulted in important progress of magnetosphere-related research fields — such as the aurora — based on worldwide ground-based observations. IGY had also in its program the launching and operation of the first man-made satellites, both Soviet Sputniks and American Explorers and Vanguards, for in situ measurements in space. Still, Sputnik 1 caused an enormous sensation when it appeared in the sky on October 4, 1957.