NSSDCA ID: 1969-046E-05
Mission Name: Vela 5BTwo electrostatic analyzer-electron multiplier units were used to study the interplanetary solar wind (including heavy ions) and protons and electrons in the magnetotail. Energy analysis was accomplished by charging the plates to known voltage levels and allowing them to discharge with known RC time constants. Particles in a 6-deg by 100-deg, fan-shaped angular range were accepted for analysis during a decaying voltage cycle. The 100-deg dimension was parallel to the spacecraft spin axis for both detectors. One detector unit was used to study magnetotail protons or electrons between 20 eV and 33 keV and solar wind heavy ions in the energy-per-charge range between 1 keV/Q and 8.3 keV/Q. The other detector unit, which failed, was designed to study solar wind electrons in the energy range from 7.5 eV to 18.5 keV and solar wind positive ions (mainly protons and alpha particles) in an energy-per-charge range from 120 eV/Q to 5 keV/Q.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Dr. H. Kent Hills
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Mr. H. E. Felthauser | Other Investigator | Los Alamos National Laboratory | |
Dr. John R. Asbridge | Other Investigator | Los Alamos National Laboratory | john.asbridge@lanl.gov |
Dr. Samuel J. Bame | Principal Investigator | Los Alamos National Laboratory | sbame@lanl.gov |