A configurable ion source for validating spaceflight-based thermal plasma measurement systems

Area of Science:

• Space Physics and Aeronomy
• Atmospheric Science
• Instrument Development

Background:

• Thermal ion instruments are crucial for studying Earth's upper atmosphere.
• Prelaunch vacuum chamber testing is essential for validating instrument performance before space missions.
• Existing thermal ion sources may have limitations for comprehensive prelaunch testing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel thermal ion source designed for prelaunch testing of space instruments.
• To evaluate the performance of the new ion source by comparing it with simulation data.
• To demonstrate the practical application of the ion source in validating instrument performance for NASA missions.

Main Methods:

• Development and construction of a new thermal ion source.
• Conducting vacuum chamber tests to characterize the ion source's output.
• Comparing experimental results with detailed performance simulations.

Main Results:

• The new thermal ion source demonstrated reliable performance consistent with simulation predictions.
• The source successfully generated thermal ions suitable for instrument calibration and validation.
• An example case study highlighted the source's utility in validating an instrument's response.

Conclusions:

• The developed thermal ion source is a valuable tool for prelaunch instrument validation.
• This new source enhances the readiness of instruments for NASA space missions.
• The source facilitates more accurate assessment of instrument performance in simulated space environments.