BackForwardInstrument:  PAMELA 

Instrument details
Acronym PAMELA
Full name Payload for AntiMatter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics
Purpose Space Weather - specifically, particle spectrometry in cosmic rays
Short description Several instruments to measure spectra of protons (0.08-700 GeV), anti-protons, positrons , electrons (0.05-400 GeV), light nuclei (up to Z = 6, i.e. carbon) (0.1-700 GeV/n) and neutrons (0.008-10000 GeV)
Background New development
Scanning Technique Interplanetary space observation from a high-inclination drifting LEO
Resolution N/A
Coverage / Cycle Nearly full interplanetary space
Mass 470 kg Power 360 W Data Rate 180 kbps

 

Providing Agency Roscosmos
Instrument Maturity Flown on an R&D satellite
Utilization Period: 2006 to 2016
Last update: 2022-07-25
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
  • In-situ plasma probes, and energetic particle spectrometers and magnetometers at GEO and LEO, and magnetic field at GEO
  • Electron sensor at LEO
  • Proton sensor at LEO
Mission objectives
Primary mission objectives
  • Alpha particles differential directional flux
  • Cosmic ray neutron flux spectrum
  • Electron differential directional flux
  • Heavy ion flux energy and mass spectrum
  • 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
Electron differential directional flux*3 - highNo specific limitation.Interplanetary space, high energy (over 400 keV)
Proton differential directional flux*3 - highNo specific limitation.Interplanetary space, high energy (over 1000 keV)
Alpha particles differential directional flux*2 - very highNo specific limitation.Interplanetary space. Medium-high energy (over 10 to >100 MeV/n)
Heavy ion flux energy and mass spectrum*4 - fairNo specific limitation.Interplanetary space. Medium-high energy (over 10 to >100 MeV/n)
Cosmic ray neutron flux spectrum*4 - fairNo specific limitation.Interplanetary space. Extended energy range (<10 to >100 MeV/n)