BackForwardInstrument:  FC 

Instrument details
Acronym FC
Full name Faraday Cup
Purpose Observation of protons and alpha-particles of the solar wind
Short description Using multiple collectors allowing detection of the full range of the solar wind deflections (approx. ± 15 degrees in all directions). Spectroscopy of protons, presumably in the range 0.003-100 MeV, and alpha-particles presumably in the range 0.04-400 MeV
Background DSCOVR is the refurbishment of the Triana satellite stored on the ground in 2000 [named after Rodrigo de Triana, the first of Columbus's crew to sight land in the Americas
Scanning Technique Interplanetary space observation from the L1 Lagrange libration point
Resolution N/A
Coverage / Cycle Nearly full interplanetary space, nearly continuous
Mass Power Data Rate

 

Providing Agency NASA
Instrument Maturity Backed by strong heritage
Utilization Period: 2015 to 2026
Last update: 2021-10-02
Detailed characteristics
Satellites this instrument is flying on

Note: a red tag indicates satellites no longer operational, a green tag indicates operational satellites, a blue tag indicates future satellites

Instrument classification
  • Solar and space environment monitors
  • Energetic particle spectrometer
WIGOS Subcomponents
  • Subcomponent 1
  • Solar wind in situ plasma and energetic particles, magnetic field, at L1
  • Solar wind at L1 - Proton sensor
  • Solar wind at L1 - Alpha-particle sensor
  • Solar wind at L1 - Plasma density sensor
  • Solar wind at L1 - Plasma temperature sensor
  • Solar wind at L1 - Plasma velocity sensor
Mission objectives
Primary mission objectives
  • Alpha particles differential directional flux
  • Proton differential directional flux
Evaluation of Measurements

The following list indicates which measurements can typically be retrieved from this category of instrument. To see a full Gap Analysis by Variable, click on the respective variable.

Note: table can be sorted by clicking on the column headers
Note: * Primary mission objective.
VariableRelevance for measuring this variableOperational limitationsExplanation
Proton differential directional flux*3 - highNo specific limitation.Interplanetary space, low, medium and high energy (up to over 1000 keV)
Alpha particles differential directional flux*2 - very highNo specific limitation.Interplanetary space. Low-medium energy range (<10 up to 100 MeV/n)
Solar wind density3 - highNo specific limitation.Interplanetary space. Inferred from Proton and Alpha-particle spectroscopy
Solar wind temperature3 - highNo specific limitation.Interplanetary space. Inferred from Proton and Alpha-particle spectroscopy
Solar wind velocity3 - highNo specific limitation.Interplanetary space. Inferred from Proton and Alpha-particle spectroscopy