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PDS_VERSION_ID = PDS3 RECORD_TYPE = STREAM RELEASE_ID = 0001 REVISION_ID = 0000 INSTRUMENT_HOST_NAME = "MARS EXPRESS" INSTRUMENT_HOST_ID = "MEX" MISSION_NAME = "MARS EXPRESS" OBJECT = TEXT PUBLICATION_DATE = 2006-01-31 NOTE = "MEX ASPERA-3 STANDARD DATA ARCHIVE" END_OBJECT = TEXT END MEX ASPERA-3 STANDARD DATA ARCHIVE 1. Overview ============================================================================== This archive contains data from the Ion Mass Analyzer (IMA) component of the ASPERA-3 instrument from the Mars Express mission. The IMA instrument provides ion measurements in the energy range 0.01-40 keV/Q for the main ion components H+, H2+, He+, O+, the group of molecular ions (20 ❮ M/q ❮ ~80), and up to 10e6 amu/q. Mechanically IMA is a separate unit with a 4.6 degree x 360 degree field of view. Electrostatic sweeping performs elevation (+-45 degree) coverage. The IMA sensor is a spherical electrostatic analyzer followed by a circular magnetic separating section. A large diameter MCP with a discrete anode images matrix azimuth x mass. IMA uses an open magnetic separating system and is therefore able to investigate the plasma component with very high M/q (up to 10e6 amu/q), i.e., corresponding to a dusty plasma. The general scientific objectives of ASPERA-3 are to study the solar wind and atmosphere interaction, and to characterize the plasma and neutral gas environment in the near-Mars space through energetic neutral atom (ENA) imaging and in-situ plasma measurements. The specific science measurements to carry out these goals are: 1. Integral ENA fluxes in the energy range of 0.1 to 60 keV. Neutral Particle Imager (NPI) 2. Mass/energy resolved neutral hydrogen and oxygen atom spectra in the energy range of 0.1 to 100 keV. Neutral Particle Detector (NPD) 3. Ion energy/mass/angle resolved spectra in the energy range of 0.01 to 40 keV; 1-106 atomic mass units per unit charge (amu/q); with up to 4pi steradian coverage. However, due to spacecraft blockage, full coverage is never really achieved. Ion Mass Analyzer (IMA) 4. Electron spectra in energy range of 0.05 eV to 20 keV, with up to 4pi steradian coverage. However, due to spacecraft blockage, 4pi coverage is never really achieved. Electron Spectrometer (ELS) The ASPERA-3 archived data sets contain data measurements necessary to satisfy the scientific goals and objectives. Getting Started: ---------------- For more information and detail concerning the organization and contents of the ASPERA-3 data sets, refer to the ASPERA-3 Experiment to Archive Interface Control Document (EAICD) found in the DOCUMENT directory (MEX_ASPERA3_PSA_ICD_V02_00). The ASPERA3_IMA_EDR_DS.CAT file found in the CATALOG directory provides the Ion Mass Analyzer (IMA) raw (telemetry counts) data set description. Look in the DOCUMENT directory for the following: Instrument Description Documents ASPERA3_MEX_EXP.PDF - Provides detailed information about the ASPERA-3 experiment, instrumentation, and data measurements. ASPERA3_FLIGHT_PERF.PDF - Provides additional ASPERA-3 information concerning pre-flight testing and flight performance. Geometry Documents ASPERA3_SENSOR_FRAMES.PDF - Provides sensor numbering and frames information for each of the ASPERA-3 sensors. ASPERA3_SENSOR_GEOMETRY.TXT - Provides ASPERA-3 frames and geometry information. The information in this text document was taken from the Mars Express Frames Kernel (FK) and the ASPERA-3 Instrument Kernel (IK). A code example (in C and FORTRAN) is provided (at the bottom) to determine view directions of each of the ASPERA-3 sensors. Calibration Documents IMA_CALIBRATION_REPORT.PDF - Provides calibration information and report for the Ion Mass Analyzer (IMA) instrument. 2. Online Deliveries and Data Releases ============================================================================== The ASPERA-3 data files and labels are organized onto logical archive e-volumes (electronic volumes). A single ASPERA-3 data set (e.g., IMA EDR, NPI EDR, etc.) for a specified time interval is organized as a single archive e-volume. The PSA release object/mechanism is used for archive e-volume generation and submission. This means that each logical e-volume is a data release since they are for specific time periods. In other words, a logical archive e-volume is identical to a data set release. The collection of data set releases comprises the entire data set (all data for the whole mission). Once the data and files are generated and organized for a data release, the archive e-volume (or data set release) is ready for validation. The PSA Volume Validation (PVV) software tool is used to ensure all files are present and conform to PSA/PDS standards and to deliver the e-volume to PSA/PDS. 3. File Formats ============================================================================== The PDS Spreadsheet object is used for the ASPERA-3 data (CSV - Comma Separated Values), and the data are in ASCII form. Please note that although the data formats in the CSV files provide for as much accuracy as possible, this does not mean the instruments (ELS, IMA, NPD, & NPI) are capable of this much accuracy. However, it is necessary to have the data accuracy for calibrated data products. 4. Applicable Software ============================================================================== The CSV format is fairly common and can be loadable into Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet software. However, Microsoft Excel is limited to 65,536 rows, and most of ASPERA-3 CSV files contain more than 65,536 rows so Microsoft Excel will truncate them. Since the ASPERA-3 CSV files are in ASCII format, it is recommended to use a text editor to read and format the data for input to other tools. 5. Whom to Contact for Information ============================================================================== MEX Project Scientist: Dr. Olivier Witasse email: owitasse@rssd.esa.int phone: (31) 71 565 6565 fax: (31) 71 565 4697 smail: Postbus 290, 2200 AG Noordwijk, NL MEX Archive Manager: Dr. David Heather e-mail: dheather@rssd.esa.int phone: (34) 91 81 31 183 fax: (34) 91 81 31 325 smail: ESAC, SRE-OS, PO BOX 78, E-28691, Villanueva De La Canada, Madrid, Spain For any PSA related issues: PSA Helpdesk: psahelp@rssd.esa.int ASPERA-3 PI: Prof. Rickard Lundin Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF), Kiruna, Sweden email: rickard@irf.se Co-PI: Dr. Stas Barabash Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF), Kiruna, Sweden email: stas@irf.se Data Manager: Mr. Leif Kalla Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF), Kiruna, Sweden email: leif@irf.se Archive Manager: Ms. Sandee Jeffers Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), San Antonio, TX email: sjeffers@swri.org NASA PDS Archivist: Mr. Steve Joy UCLA-IGPP Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1567 email: sjoy@igpp.ucla.edu 6. Cognizant Persons ============================================================================== PSA: Dr. David Heather, ESA Planetary Science Archive Manager European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid, Spain PDS-PPI: Mr. Steve Joy University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) |