Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF)
Kiruna, 2002-11-05
Press Release
Kiruna-built satellite instruments to Mars and Venus
Scientific meetings at IRF in Kiruna 6 and 7 November
Satellite instruments built in Kiruna, Sweden, are to be sent to the planets Mars and Venus. The Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) is the Principal Investigator for the ASPERA-3 instrument which is one of eight instruments on board the ESA spacecraft Mars Express which is to be launched in May 2003. IRF has also just begun work on a similar instrument, ASPERA-4, for a planned mission to Venus. The present planned launch date for Venus Express (which is also an ESA project) is 2005.
The general scientific objective of ASPERA (an instrument to analyse Energetic Neutral Atoms, ENAs) is to study the interaction between the solar wind and the atmosphere of the planets. ASPERA, which consists of four separate sensors, will characterise the plasma and neutral gas environment in the planets' near-space environment by detecting energetic neutral atoms (ENAs). An ion formed by interaction with the solar wind can become a neutral atom again by stripping an electron off an atom of neutral background gas. As the ion was energetic, the resulting neutral atom is also energetic. Neutral atoms are not deflected by electromagnetic fields and thus travel in a straight line from where they are formed. By detecting ENAs and their direction of travel, ASPERA will build up an image of the region in the upper atmosphere that interacts with the solar wind.
Scientific and technical meetings on the instruments and the experiments they will carry out are being held at IRF in Kiruna on 5-8 November. On Wednesday, 6 November, 9-12, there is a session on the interaction between the solar wind and the planets Mars and Venus. The morning session on Thursday, 7 November, 9-12, will be devoted to Venus Express. These sessions are open to interested members of the public and to the press.
More information:
Rick McGregor, Information Officer, +46-980-79178, rick.mcgregor@irf.se
Professor Stas Barabash, +46-980-79186, stas.barabash@irf.se
Internet:
http://sci.esa.int/content/doc/29/21545_.htm
http://www.estec.esa.nl/spdwww/mars/html/aspera.html
Webmaster@irf.se
2002-11-05