The Pluto Energetic Particle Spectrometer Science Investigation (PEPSSI) on the New Horizons Mission

McNutt, R. L.; Livi, S.; Gurnee, R. S.; Hill, M. E.; Cooper, Kim A.; Andrews, G. B.; Keath, E. P.; Krimigis, S. M.; Mitchell, D. G.; Tossman, B. E.; Bagenal, F.; Boldt, J.; Bradley, Walter; Devereux, William S.; Ho, G. C.; Jaskulek, S.; LeFevere, Thomas W.; Malcom, Horace; Marcus, Geoffrey A.; Hayes, J. R.; Moore, G. Ty; Paschalidis, Vasileios; Perry, M. E.; Williams, Bruce D.; Wilson, Paul; Brown, L. E.; Kusterer, M. B.; Vandegriff, J. D.

doi:10.1007/s11214-009-9534-5

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Such measurements include atmospheric thermal profiles (to constrain heating from extreme ultraviolet radiation) and structure (in particular, the exobase altitude from which escape may take place), as well as ejection velocity in potential plumes. New Horizons is well equipped to perform such measurements: ultraviolet spectra and atmospheric maps will be acquired by the Alice instrument ; atmospheric temperature and structure profiles will be inferred from radio occultations using REX (Tyler et al, 2008);and SWAP (McComas et al, 2008) and PEPSSI (McNutt et al, 2008) will be used to perform solar wind measurements and energetic particle spectrometry to determine in situ escape rates (Stern and Spencer, 2003).…”

Section: Predictions For Pluto and Charonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prerequisites for explosive cryovolcanism on dwarf planet-class Kuiper belt objects

Neveu

Desch

Shock

et al. 2015

Icarus

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Explosive extrusion of cold material from the interior of icy bodies, or cryovolcanism, has been observed on Enceladus and, perhaps, Europa, Triton, and Ceres. It may explain the observed evidence for a young surface on Charon (Pluto's surface is masked by frosts). Here, we evaluate prerequisites for cryovolcanism on dwarf planet-class Kuiper belt objects (KBOs). We first review the likely spatial and temporal extent of subsurface liquid, proposed mechanisms to overcome the negative buoyancy of liquid water in ice, and the volatile inventory of KBOs. We then present a new geochemical equilibrium model for volatile exsolution and its ability to drive upward crack propagation. This novel approach bridges geophysics and geochemistry, and extends geochemical modeling to the seldom-explored realm of liquid water at subzero temperatures. We show that carbon monoxide (CO) is a key volatile for gas-driven fluid ascent; whereas CO 2 and sulfur gases only play a minor role. N 2 , CH 4 , and H 2 exsolution may also drive explosive cryovolcanism if hydrothermal activity produces these species in large amounts (a few percent with respect to water). Another important control on crack propagation is the internal structure: a hydrated core makes explosive cryovolcanism easier, but an undifferentiated crust does not. We briefly discuss other controls on ascent such as fluid freezing on crack walls, and outline theoretical advances necessary to better understand cryovolcanic processes. Finally, we make testable predictions for the 2015 New Horizons flyby of the Pluto-Charon system.

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Section: Predictions For Pluto and Charonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prerequisites for explosive cryovolcanism on dwarf planet-class Kuiper belt objects

Neveu

Desch

Shock

et al. 2015

Icarus

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“…The best performance for species identification is in the 64 holes at the 3, 4 and 5 positions, at 45°, 67.5°, and 90°from the instrument normal EPI-Lo also detects electrons from ∼25 keV to 1000 keV. EPI-Lo uses solid-state detectors (SSDs) shielded by aluminum flashing of ∼2 µm thickness as also used in multiple current and upcoming missions, e.g., Cassini-MIMI ), MESSENGER EPS (Andrews et al 2007), New Horizons PEPSSI (McNutt et al 2008), Juno JEDI (Mauk et al 2013), Van Allen Probes RBSPICE , and MMS EIS (Mauk et al 2014). The relatively thick aluminum flashing naturally suppresses light, which is a very important feature for this intrinsically single parameter measurement.…”

Section: Epi-lo Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Response to visible and ultraviolet light 4. Response to high-energy (out of band) particle backgrounds Calibration will be done primarily using the APL particle accelerator (e.g., McNutt et al 2008), a versatile system capable of producing a broad range of ion species at energies from 20 to 170 keV. The system includes an electron-impact ionization source, extraction gap, Einzel Lens and Wien filter mounted in the insulated terminal structure along with all associated power supplies.…”

Section: Calibration Planmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISIS): Design of the Energetic Particle Investigation

et al. 2014

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cles over a very broad energy range, as well as coordinated management, science operations, data processing, and scientific analysis. Together, ISIS observations allow us to explore the mechanisms of energetic particles dynamics, including their: (1) Originsdefining the seed populations and physical conditions necessary for energetic particle acceleration; (2) Acceleration-determining the roles of shocks, reconnection, waves, and turbulence in accelerating energetic particles; and (3) Transport-revealing how energetic particles propagate from the corona out into the heliosphere. The two ISIS Energetic Particle Instruments measure lower (EPI-Lo) and higher (EPI-Hi) energy particles. EPI-Lo measures ions and ion composition from ∼20 keV/nucleon-15 MeV total energy and electrons from ∼25-1000 keV. EPI-Hi measures ions from ∼1-200 MeV/nucleon and electrons from ∼0.5-6 MeV. EPI-Lo comprises 80 tiny apertures with fields-of-view (FOVs) that sample over nearly a complete hemisphere, while EPI-Hi combines three telescopes that together provide five large-FOV apertures. ISIS observes continuously inside of 0.25 AU with a high data collection rate and burst data (EPI-Lo) coordinated with the rest of the SPP payload; outside of 0.25 AU, ISIS runs in low-rate science mode whenever feasible to capture as complete a record as possible of the solar energetic particle environment and provide calibration and continuity for measurements closer in to the Sun. The ISIS Science Operations Center plans and executes commanding, receives and analyzes all ISIS data, and coordinates science observations and analyses with the rest of the SPP science investigations. Together, ISIS' unique observations on SPP will enable the discovery, untangling, and understanding of the important physical processes that govern energetic particles in the innermost regions of our heliosphere, for the first time. This paper summarizes the ISIS investigation at the time of the SPP mission Preliminary

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“…SWAP, a solar wind monitor to address Pluto atmospheric escape rates (McComas et al, 2007) 6. PEPSSI, an energetic particle spectrometer to measure the composition of the ion species existing in region of Pluto (McNutt et al, 2007) 7. Venita Burney (VB) dust counter, which measures the density of fine dust particles in the solar system along New Horizons' trajectory from Earth to Pluto and beyond (Horanyi et al, 2007) The placement of these instruments on the spacecraft is shown in Figure 1.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The New Horizons Spacecraft

et al. 2008

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(where the solar irradiance is 1/1000 of the level near the Earth) require a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) to supply electrical power. One RTG was available for use by New Horizons. To accommodate this constraint, the spacecraft electronics were designed to operate on less than 200 W. The travel time to Pluto put additional demands on system reliability.Only after a flight time of approximately 10 years would the desired data be collected and returned to Earth. This represents the longest flight duration prior to the return of primary science data for any mission by NASA. The spacecraft system architecture provides sufficient redundancy to meet this requirement with a probability of mission success of greater than 0.85. The spacecraft is now on its way to Pluto, with an arrival date of 14 July 2015. Initial inflight tests have verified that the spacecraft will meet the design requirements.

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The Pluto Energetic Particle Spectrometer Science Investigation (PEPSSI) on the New Horizons Mission

Cited by 8 publications

References 0 publications

Prerequisites for explosive cryovolcanism on dwarf planet-class Kuiper belt objects

Prerequisites for explosive cryovolcanism on dwarf planet-class Kuiper belt objects

Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISIS): Design of the Energetic Particle Investigation

The New Horizons Spacecraft

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