Small scale observation of magnetopause motion: preliminary results of the INTERBALL project

Abstract. Two satellites of the INTERBALL project were launched on 3 August 1995. The main goals of the present paper are (1) to give a brief information about the VDP plasma device onboard the INTERBALL-1 satellite, (2) to present the Faradays cup data taken in different magnetospheric regions and (3) to expose first results of the two satellite measurements of the magnetopause motion. The presented data illustrate magnetopause crossings as seen by two satellites when separated by about ~ 1000 km. This separation combined with the Faraday's cup time resolution allows to estimate the velocity of the magnetopause and to reconstruct a possible structure of the boundary. Simultaneous measurement of the magnetic field supports the interpretation of the observed ion fluxes as a signature of the wavy motion of the boundary.