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Instrument: 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
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:
≥2025-02 to ≥2029
Last update:
2021-11-10
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 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 Show all Show fewer
Tentative 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
Variable Relevance for measuring this variable Operational limitations Explanation
Solar wind density 1 - primary No specific limitation. Interplanetary space. Infrerred from Proton. Electron and Alpha-particle spectroscopy
Solar wind temperature 1 - primary No specific limitation. Interplanetary space. Infrerred from Proton. Electron and Alpha-particle spectroscopy
Solar wind velocity 1 - primary No specific limitation. Interplanetary space. Infrerred from Proton. Electron and Alpha-particle spectroscopy