A data processing unit (DPU) for a satellite-borne charge composition experiment

Conference · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5015259

Koga, R; Blake, J B; Chenette, D L; Fennell, J F; Imamoto, S S; Katz, N; King, C G

A data processing unit (DPU) for use with a charge composition experiment to be flown aboard the VIKING auroral research satellite is described. The function of this experiment is to measure the mass, charge state, energy, and pitch-angle distribution of ions in the earth's high-altitude magnetosphere in the energy range from 50 keV/q to 300 keV/q. In order to be compatible with the spacecraft telemetry limitations, raw sensor data are processed in the DPU using on-board composition analysis and the scalar compression. The design of this DPU is such that it can be readily adapted to a variety of space composition experiments. Special attention was given to the effect of the radiation environment on orbit since a microprocessor and a relatively large number of random access memories (RAMs) comprise a considerable portion of the DPU.

• Research Organization: The Aerospace Corp., Los Angeles, CA
• OSTI ID: 5015259
• Report Number(s): CONF-841007-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci.; (United States) Journal Volume: NS-32:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640101* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmic Radiation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAL ZONES
CHARGE DISTRIBUTION
CHARGED PARTICLE DETECTION
COMPUTERS
DATA ACQUISITION
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS
DATA PROCESSING
DETECTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ENERGY SPECTRA
ION DETECTION
MEMORY DEVICES
MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
MICROPROCESSORS
PROCESSING
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION EFFECTS
REMOTE SENSING
SATELLITES
SPECTRA