BackForwardInstrument:  SWIS/SWiPS 

Instrument details
Acronym SWIS/SWiPS
Full name Space Weather Instrument Suite / Solar Wind Plasma Sensor
Purpose To measure the properties of the solar wind plasma
Short description

Measures the plasma distribution from which the density, velocity (vector), temperature, and dynamic pressure are computed. Min/Max density detected 0.1/150 particles/cm3
Background

Heritage from research and operational instruments
Scanning Technique

N/A (in situ measurement)
Resolution Different for individual plasma variables
Coverage / Cycle 1 min cycle
Mass 9 kg Power 11 W Data Rate 2 kbps

 

Providing Agency NASA
Instrument Maturity Backed by strong heritage
Utilization Period: 2026 to 2038
Last update: 2025-01-27
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 - Electron sensor
  • Solar wind at L1 - Proton sensor
  • Solar wind at L1 - Alpha-particle sensor
  • Solar wind at L1 - Heavy ion 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
  • Solar wind density
  • Solar wind temperature
  • Solar wind velocity
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
Solar wind density*1 - primaryNo specific limitation.Interplanetary space. Infrerred from Proton. Electron and Alpha-particle spectroscopy
Solar wind temperature*1 - primaryNo specific limitation.Interplanetary space. Infrerred from Proton. Electron and Alpha-particle spectroscopy
Solar wind velocity*1 - primaryNo specific limitation.Interplanetary space. Infrerred from Proton. Electron and Alpha-particle spectroscopy