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Magnetic Field Experiment

NSSDC ID: 1973-078A-01
Mission Name: IMP-J
Principal Investigator: Dr. Ronald P. Lepping

Description

This experiment consisted of a boom-mounted triaxial fluxgate magnetometer designed to study the interplanetary and geomagnetic tail magnetic fields. Each sensor had three dynamic ranges of plus or minus 12, plus or minus 36, and plus or minus 108 nT. With the aid of a bit compaction scheme (delta modulation), 25 vector measurements were made and telemetered per second. The experiment operated normally from launch until mid-1975. On July 11, 1975, because of a range indicator problem, the experiment operation was frozen into the 36-nT range. The digitization accuracy in this range is about plus or minus 0.3 nT. On March 23, 1978, the sensor flipper failed. After that time, alternative methods of Z-axis sensor zero-level determination were required. The magnetometer failed June 10, 2000.

Disciplines

  • Space Physics: Heliospheric Studies
  • Space Physics: Magnetospheric Studies

Additional Information

Questions or comments about this experiment can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office.

 

Personnel

NameRoleOriginal AffiliationE-mail
Mr. Joseph B. SeekOther InvestigatorNASA Goddard Space Flight Center 
Mr. Clell S. ScearceOther InvestigatorNASA Goddard Space Flight Center 
Dr. James A. SlavinOther InvestigatorNASA Goddard Space Flight Centerslavin@lepjas.gsfc.nasa.gov
Dr. Ronald P. LeppingPrincipal InvestigatorNASA Goddard Space Flight Centerronald.p.lepping@gmail.com
Dr. Adam SzaboOther InvestigatorNASA Goddard Space Flight Centeraszabo@pop600.gsfc.nasa.gov
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