Limited resource plasma analyzers: Miniaturization concepts

Dwindling financial resources in conjunction with a history of expensive, large- scale missions have driven NASA into an operational mode that demands instruments with high scientific yield using fewer allocated spacecraft resources. This focus has resulted in miniaturization of plasma sensors with retention, and sometimes even expansion, of a broad scientific return. Instrument miniaturization is realized by more efficient electro-optical design, high density packaging, new technologies, and relaxed electronics specifications. By focusing on ion and electron spectrometers, we illustrate these concepts by describing minimum resource (< 1 kg, < 1 W) plasma analyzers that retain full scientific capabilities.