The two wide-angle imaging neutral-atom spectrometers (TWINS) NASA mission-of-opportunity

D. J. McComas, F. Allegrini, J. Baldonado, B. Blake, P. C. Brandt, J. Burch, J. Clemmons, W. Crain, D. Delapp, R. Demajistre, D. Everett, H. Fahr, L. Friesen, H. Funsten, J. Goldstein, M. Gruntman, R. Harbaugh, R. Harper, H. Henkel, C. HolmlundG. Lay, D. Mabry, D. Mitchell, U. Nass, C. Pollock, S. Pope, M. Reno, S. Ritzau, E. Roelof, E. Scime, M. Sivjee, R. Skoug, T. S. Sotirelis, M. Thomsen, C. Urdiales, P. Valek, K. Viherkanto, S. Weidner, T. Ylikorpi, M. Young, J. Zoennchen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

129 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two Wide-angle Imaging Neutral-atom Spectrometers (TWINS) is a NASA Explorer Mission-of-Opportunity to stereoscopically image the Earth's magnetosphere for the first time. TWINS extends our understanding of magnetospheric structure and processes by providing simultaneous Energetic Neutral Atom (ENA) imaging from two widely separated locations. TWINS observes ENAs from 1-100 keV with high angular (∼4°×4°) and time (∼1-minute) resolution. The TWINS Ly-α monitor measures the geocoronal hydrogen density to aid in ENA analysis while environmental sensors provide contemporaneous measurements of the local charged particle environments. By imaging ENAs with identical instruments from two widely spaced, high-altitude, high-inclination spacecraft, TWINS enables three-dimensional visualization of the large-scale structures and dynamics within the magnetosphere for the first time. This "instrument paper" documents the TWINS design, construction, calibration, and initial results. Finally, the appendix of this paper describes and documents the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) instrument calibration facility; this facility was used for all TWINS instrument-level calibrations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)157-231
Number of pages75
JournalSpace Science Reviews
Volume142
Issue number1-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2009
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

  • ENA
  • ENA instrumentation
  • Energetic neutral atom imaging
  • Geocorona
  • Magnetosphere
  • Space plasma calibration facility

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The two wide-angle imaging neutral-atom spectrometers (TWINS) NASA mission-of-opportunity'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this