Cassini orbiter ion and neutral mass spectrometer instrument

Details Cassini orbiter ion and neutral mass spectrometer instrument Cassini orbiter ion and neutral mass spectrometer instrument

Oct 1996

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996spie.2803..129k&link_type=abstract

Proc. SPIE Vol. 2803, p. 129-140, Cassini/Huygens: A Mission to the Saturnian Systems, Linda Horn; Ed.

Computer Science

12

Scientific paper

The Cassini Orbiter Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) is designed to measure the composition and density variations of low energy ions and neutral species in the upper atmosphere of Titan, in the vicinity of the icy satellites and in the inner magnetosphere of Saturn where densities are sufficiently high for measurement. The sensor utilizes a dual radio frequency quadrupole mass analyzer with a mass range of 1-99 amu, two electron multipliers operated in pulse-counting mode to cover the dynamic range required and two separate ion sources. A closed ion source measures non-surface reactive neutral species which have thermally accommodated to the inlet walls such as N(subscript 2) and CH(subscript 4). An open ion source allows direct beaming ions or chemically active neutral species such as N and HCN to be measured without surface interaction. The instrument can alternate between these three different modes. Characterization and calibration of each of these three modes is done using a low energy ion beam, a neutral molecular beam and a neutral thermal gas source. An onboard flight computer is used to control instrument operating parameters in accordance with pre-programmed sequences and to package the telemetry data. The sensor is sealed and maintained in a vacuum prior to launch to provide a clean environment for measurement of neutral species when it is opened to the ambient atmosphere after orbit insertion. The instrument is provided by NASA/Goddard Spaceflight Center, Code 915. Operation of the instrument and data analysis will be carried out by a Science Team.

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