NSSDCA ID: 1966-044A-02
Mission Name: AE-BTwo double-focusing magnetic mass spectrometers were used to measure the composition of the neutral atmosphere between 285 and 1000 km. One was mounted on the equator of the spherical satellite normal to the spin axis, and the other was mounted on the top of the satellite parallel to the spin axis. The eutral particles were ionized by electron bombardment and separated according to mass-to-charge ratio (M/Q) in the analyzer section of the instrument. There was one collector cup for each of seven different ion species. An electrometer amplifier, which had two sensitivity ranges differing by a factor of 100, sampled the seven collectors sequentially. The dwell time on a specific mass and sensitivity range was 2.4 s. The first four of the fifteen 2.4-s steps of a cycle were devoted to correcting any zero drift of the electrometer and to recording the low- and high-sensitivity zero levels. The ion currents were then measured in high sensitivity for M/Q equal to 2 (molecular hydrogen), 4 (helium), and 14 (atomic nitrogen) and in high and low sensitivity for M/Q equal to 28 (molecular nitrogen), 32 (molecular oxygen), 16 (atomic oxygen), and 18 (water vapor). The time for one complete cycle was 36 s. Real-time data were obtained in programmed 4-min turn-ons. The experiment was also operated for 4-min periods in a tape recorder mode at about 10 remote locations. Electronic malfunctions of the logic of the two spectrometers caused one instrument to fail after 4 days in orbit and the other after 7 days. NSSDC has all the useful data that exist from this investigation.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Dr. Dieter K. Bilitza
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Mr. Jimmy E. Cooley | Other Investigator | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | |
Dr. Carl A. Reber | Principal Investigator | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | reber@skip.gsfc.nasa.gov |