Strumentazione ed Esperimenti per Campi, Particelle e Onde:
Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI)
PI: Dr. Stamatios M. Krimigis
MIMI Principal Investigator:
Dr. Stamatios M. Krimigis
Chief Scientist, Space Department
Applied Physics Laboratory
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins Road
Laurel, Md 20723-6099
MIMI General Description:
The Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI) is designed to:
(1) measure the composition, charge state and energy distribution
of energetic ions and electrons; (2) detect fast neutral species;
and, (3) conduct remote imaging of the Saturn's magnetosphere.
This information will be used to study the overall configuration
and dynamics of the magnetosphere and its interactions with the
solar wind, Saturn's atmosphere, Titan, rings, and icy satellites.
MIMI Scientific Objectives:
To determine the global configuration and dynamics of hot
plasma in the magnetosphere of Saturn.
To monitor and model magnetospheric substorm-like activity
and correlate this activity with Saturn Kilometric Radiation
(SKR) observations.
To study magnetosphere/ionosphere coupling through remote
sensing of aurora and measurements of energetic ions and electrons.
To investigate plasma energization and circulation processes
in the magnetotail of Saturn.
To determine through imaging and composition studies the
magnetosphere/satellite interactions at Saturn and understand
the formation of clouds of neutral hydrogen, nitrogen, and water
products.
To measure electron losses due to interactions with whistler
waves.
To study the global structure and temporal variability of
Titan's atmosphere.
Monitor the loss rate and composition of particles lost from
Titan's atmosphere due to ionization and pickup.
To study Titan's interaction with the magnetosphere of Saturn
and and the solar wind.
To determine the importance of Titan's exosphere as a source
for the atomic hydrogen torus in Saturn's outer magnetosphere.
To investigate the absorption of energetic ions and electrons
by Saturn's rings and icy satellites.
To analyze Dione's exosphere.
MIMI Instrument Characteristics:
Mass (current best estimate) = 16.00 kg
Average Operating Power (current best estimate) = 14.00 W
Average Data Rate (current best estimate) = 7.00 kilobits/s
Engineering technical write-up
for MIMI.
