Instrument Information
IDENTIFIER urn:esa:psa:context:instrument:mex.aspera-3::1.2
NAME Mars Express Orbiter Analyzer of Space Plasma and Energetic Atoms (3rd Version)
TYPE
DESCRIPTION The general scientific objectives of the Mars Express Orbiter (MEX) Analyzer of Space Plasma and Energetic Atoms (3rd Version) (ASPERA-3) experiment are to study the solar wind-atmosphere interaction and characterize the plasma and neutral gas environment in the near-Mars space through energetic neutral atom (ENA) imaging and local charged particle measurements. The ASPERA-3 instrument comprises four sensors; two ENA sensors, electron and ion spectrometers. The Neutral Particle Imager (NPI) provides measurements of the integral ENA flux (0.1 -60 keV) with no mass and energy resolution but high angular resolution. The Neutral Particle Detector (NPD) provides measurements of the ENA flux, resolving velocity (0.1 -10 keV) and mass (H and O) with a coarse angular resolution. The electron spectrometer (ELS) is a standard top-hat electrostatic analyzer in a very compact design. These three sensors are located on a scanning platform providing a 4pi coverage (maximum possible). The instrument also contains an ion mass composition sensor, IMA (Ion Mass Analyzer). Mechanically, IMA is a separate unit connected by a cable to the ASPERA-3 main unit. IMA provides ion measurements in the energy range 0.01 - 40 keV/q for the main ion components H+, H2+, He+, O+, with 20-80 amu/q.
MODEL IDENTIFIER
NAIF INSTRUMENT IDENTIFIER
SERIAL NUMBER not applicable
REFERENCES Barabash, S., et. al., ASPERA-3: Analyser of Space Plasmas and Energetic Ions for Mars Express, ESA SP-1240, September 2004