Three Heos 2 passes through the distant cusp-magnetosheath transition in summer 1973 are described. By combining data from three different experiments on board Heos 2 it has been possible to identify a distinct transition from a 'stagnant' plasma (the distant cusp) to a region of 'reduced flow' magnetosheath. Closed magnetosphere models are in better agreement with the observations than open ('reconnection') models.