BackForwardInstrument:  MENA 

Instrument details
Acronym MENA
Full name Medium-Energy Neutral-Atom Imager
Purpose To detect Energetic Neutral Atoms (ENA) imaging the outflow of medium-energy ions from the polar ionosphere.
Short description Slit-type imager composed of three identical sensors, mounted to a common DPU (Data Processing Unit) assembly, to image the ion populations of the cusp. The instrument determines the time of flight and incidence angle of the incoming ENAs in the energy range 1-30 keV
Background New development. Working in association with LENA for low-energy and HENA for high-energy
Scanning Technique Volumetric exploration of the magnetosphere as the satellite moves along the Highly Eliptical Orbit. Image scanning implemented by combining collimators and satellite spinning
Resolution N/A
Coverage / Cycle Magnetospheric volume
Mass 13.9 kg Power 22.5 W Data Rate 4.3 kbps

 

Providing Agency NASA
Instrument Maturity Flown on an R&D satellite
Utilization Period: 2000 to 2005
Last update: 2017-06-01
Detailed characteristics
Satellites this instrument is flying on

Note: a red tag indicates satellites no longer operational, a green tag indicates operational satellites, a blue tag indicates future satellites

Instrument classification
  • Solar and space environment monitors
  • Energetic particle spectrometer
WIGOS Subcomponents No WIGOS subcomponents have been defined.
Mission objectives
Primary mission objectives
  • Energetic Neutral Atom (ENA)
Evaluation of Measurements

The following list indicates which measurements can typically be retrieved from this category of instrument. To see a full Gap Analysis by Variable, click on the respective variable.

Note: table can be sorted by clicking on the column headers
Note: * Primary mission objective.
VariableRelevance for measuring this variableOperational limitationsExplanation
Energetic Neutral Atom (ENA)*1 - primaryNo specific limitation.Interplanetary space, medium energy (over 1000 up to 100000 eV)