NSSDCA ID: 1987-053A-03
Mission Name: DMSP 5D-2/F08The primary purpose of the ionospheric/scintillation monitor, SSI/ES, is to measure electron density and temperature, hydrogen and oxygen ion density and temperature, the power spectrum of plasma irregularities, and the velocity components of bulk plasma flow at satellite altitude. The experiment consists of one boom-mounted electrostatic analyzer and three different body-mounted planar electrostatic ion traps (Langmuir probes) used as a retarding potential analyzer, a driftmeter, and a scintillation monitor, respectively. The electrostatic analyzer measures electron parameters at least 1 m above the satellite surface. The ion retarding potential analyzer has a body-mounted electrostatic trap with a circular aperture to measure the density of ions from 1 to 16 u and ion temperature in the range 500 to 10,000 deg K. The driftmeter uses a planar electrostatic ion trap with a four-quadrant collector. The current is measured in pairs of quadrants and differenced to provide plasma drift velocities. The scintillation monitor obtains power spectrum irregularities by an ion trap with electrometer and amplifiers capable of measuring direct and alternating current in the frequency range from 20 Hz to 12 kHz.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. Rita C. Sagalyn | Principal Investigator | Phillips Laboratory (nee USAF Geophysics Lab, nee Cambridge Labs) | sagalyn@plh.af.mil |