NSSDCA ID: 1964-060A-06
Mission Name: IMP-BA quadrispherical electrostatic analyzer with a current collector and an electrometer amplifier was intended to detect and analyze the positive ion component of the incident plasma and to study its gross flow characteristics. The planned monitoring of the interplanetary medium was not accomplished because the apogee that the satellite achieved was lower than expected. Protons were analyzed in 12 energy channels between 0.7 and 8 KeV. The instrument was mounted on the satellite equatorial plane and had a view angle of 15 deg in this plane and of 90 deg in the plane containing the spin axis. The satellite equatorial plane was divided into three contiguous sectors (61 deg, 95 deg, and 204 deg) by use of an optical aspect sensor. The peak flux in one sector was recorded at one analyzer plate potential per revolution of the satellite (no information as to the position within the sector in which the peak flux occurred was retained). After 12 revolutions, all the energy channels had been scanned, and the process was repeated for the next sector. A complete scan in energy and sector was repeated every 5.46 min. Because the instrument was not capable of observing magnetospheric plasma, no data were obtained for the time when the satellite was in the magnetosphere. The data may be useful in identifying the magnetopause and bow shock. For further details, see J. H. Wolfe et al., "Preliminary results from the Ames Research Center plasma probe observations of the solar wind geomagnetic field region on IMP II and OGO I," Space Research VI, London, Macmillan & Co. Ltd., 1966. NSSDC has all the useful data that now exist.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. John H. Wolfe | Principal Investigator | NASA Ames Research Center |