NSSDCA ID: 2006-027A-01
Mission Name: USA 184The TWINS neutral atom imager is based on the MENA imager developed for the IMAGE mission.
TWINS combines two sensor heads to provide a field of view of +/-60 degrees, about the rotation direction (10 degrees off-nadir pointing). The instrument uses alternating biased and grounded collimator plates to reject charged particles and set the instantaneous azimuthal field of view. A carbon foil is used to produce secondary electrons for time-of-flight (TOF) measurement, and a position sensitive anode provides angular determination. Gold transmission gratings are used to block ambient ultraviolet light, to which the detectors are sensitive. Velocity analysis (from TOF measurements) combined with pulse-height analysis provides statistical mass determination.
Since the spacecraft is three-axis stabilized, the instrument is located on a rotating actuator platform to provide 360 degrees azimuthal coverage. Expected specifications are: energy range, 1-100 keV; mass identification, H, O; time resolution, 60 s image.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Dr. Natalia E. Papitashvili
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. Ruth Skoug | Co-Investigator | Los Alamos National Laboratory | |
Dr. Jerry Goldstein | General Contact | Southwest Research Institute | jgoldstein@swri.edu |
Dr. David J. McComas | Principal Investigator | Southwest Research Institute | dmccomas@pppl.gov |