NSSDCA ID: 1965-098B-01
Mission Name: DME-AThe purpose of the thermal ion probe experiment was to measure ion density, temperature, and composition at the satellite. The sensor consisted of a planar ion trap with three circular mesh grids and a collector. With the innermost suppressor grid maintained at -15 V to exclude electrons and the middle retarding grid swept from zero to 6.3 V, the resulting current-voltage curve due to ion current was interpreted to obtain ion temperature, ion composition, and density. Determination of these parameters was made by curve fitting, assuming various models of ion parameters and assuming that the model with the least rms residual was correct. The associated electronics were shared with experiment 65-098B-06. Further details are given in J. L. Donley, "The thermal ion and electron trap experiments on the Explorer XXXI satellite," Proc. IEEE, v. 57, n. 6, pp. 1061-1067, June 1969. NSSDC has all the useful data that exist from this investigation.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Mr. John L. Donley | Principal Investigator | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | |
Dr. Eugene J. Maier | Principal Investigator | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center |