Radiation Belt Storm Probes Ion Composition Experiment (RBSPICE) Revisited: In-Flight Calibrations, Lessons Learned...

Area of Science:

• Space Physics
• Plasma Physics
• Magnetospheric Physics

Background:

• The Van Allen Probes mission (2012-2019) utilized the Radiation Belt Storm Probes Ion Composition Experiment (RBSPICE) instrument.
• RBSPICE provided crucial ion composition data for ring current energies and electron measurements throughout the mission's duration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present post-launch instrument calibrations for the RBSPICE instrument.
• To detail updated rate-dependent corrections and address potential data contamination.
• To summarize key advancements in ring current science derived from RBSPICE observations.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of updated instrument calibrations after the Van Allen Probes launch.
• Analysis of rate-dependent corrections to account for instrument performance variations.
• Evaluation of potential contamination from "accidentals" rates in the data.
• Review of caveats associated with specific data products.

Main Results:

• Refined ion composition and electron energy measurements through updated calibrations.
• Improved understanding of data accuracy by addressing rate-dependent effects and accidental counts.
• Identification of significant advances in understanding the Earth's ring current.

Conclusions:

• The post-launch calibrations significantly enhance the reliability of RBSPICE data.
• These refined datasets are vital for advancing our knowledge of the inner magnetosphere.
• The findings have important implications for future exploration and modeling of space weather events.