The Energetic Particle, Composition and Thermal Plasma Suite (ECT). This investigation will determine the spatial, temporal, and pitch angle distributions of electrons and ions over a broad and continuous range of energies. It is designed to differentiate the causes of particle acceleration mechanisms, understand the production of plasma waves, determine how the inner magnetospheric plasma environment controls particle acceleration and loss, and characterize source particle populations and their transport. The investigation will provide a complete complement of data analysis techniques, case studies, theory, and modeling, along with expertise to define particle acceleration mechanisms, radiation belt particle enhancement and loss, and determine how the near-Earth environment controls those acceleration and loss processes.