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The X-Ray Spectrometer on the MESSENGER Spacecraft

Authors :
John D. Boldt
Jacob I. Trombka
Egidio Rossano
George C. Ho
K. Bechtold
K. Strohbehn
C. E. Schlemm
John Hayes
Raymond E. Thompson
Robert A. Rumpf
Robert E. Gold
Martin Fraeman
S. E. Jaskulek
William V. Boynton
Bruce D. Williams
Sarah A. Hamilton
John O. Goldsten
Walter Bradley
Richard G. Shelton
R. D. Starr
Edward D. Schaefer
Source :
Space Science Reviews. 131:393-415
Publication Year :
2007
Publisher :
Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2007.

Abstract

NASA’s MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) mission will further the understanding of the formation of the planets by examining the least studied of the terrestrial planets, Mercury. During the one-year orbital phase (beginning in 2011) and three earlier flybys (2008 and 2009), the X-Ray Spectrometer (XRS) onboard the MESSENGER spacecraft will measure the surface elemental composition. XRS will measure the characteristic X-ray emissions induced on the surface of Mercury by the incident solar flux. The Kα lines for the elements Mg, Al, Si, S, Ca, Ti, and Fe will be detected. The 12° field-of-view of the instrument will allow a spatial resolution that ranges from 42 km at periapsis to 3200 km at apoapsis due to the spacecraft’s highly elliptical orbit. XRS will provide elemental composition measurements covering the majority of Mercury’s surface, as well as potential high-spatial-resolution measurements of features of interest. This paper summarizes XRS’s science objectives, technical design, calibration, and mission observation strategy.

Details

ISSN :
15729672 and 00386308
Volume :
131
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Space Science Reviews
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........9dcea714c8de69db36756f382e2407ec
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-007-9248-5