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A low-mass faraday cup experiment for the solar windFaraday cups have proven to be very reliable and accurate instruments capable of making 3-D velocity distribution measurements on spinning or 3-axis stabilized spacecraft. Faraday cup instrumentation continues to be appropriate for heliospheric missions. As an example, the reductions in mass possible relative to the solar wind detection system about to be flown on the WIND spacecraft were estimated. Through the use of technology developed or used at the MIT Center for Space Research but were not able to utilize for WIND: surface-mount packaging, field-programmable gate arrays, an optically-switched high voltage supply, and an integrated-circuit power converter, it was estimated that the mass of the Faraday Cup system could be reduced from 5 kg to 1.8 kg. Further redesign of the electronics incorporating hybrid integrated circuits as well as a decrease in the sensor size, with a corresponding increase in measurement cycle time, could lead to a significantly lower mass for other mission applications. Reduction in mass of the entire spacecraft-experiment system is critically dependent on early and continual collaborative efforts between the spacecraft engineers and the experimenters. Those efforts concern a range of issues from spacecraft structure to data systems to the spacecraft power voltage levels. Requirements for flight qualification affect use of newer, lighter electronics packaging and its implementation; the issue of quality assurance needs to be specifically addressed. Lower cost and reduced mass can best be achieved through the efforts of a relatively small group dedicated to the success of the mission. Such a group needs a fixed budget and greater control over quality assurance requirements, together with a reasonable oversight mechanism.
Document ID
19930017889
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Lazarus, A. J. (Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Steinberg, J. T. (Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Mcnutt, R. L., Jr. (Johns Hopkins Univ. Laurel, MD., United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1993
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.26:193210
NASA-CR-193210
Accession Number
93N27078
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1550
CONTRACT_GRANT: N00039-91-C-0001
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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