MESSENGER EPPS EPS CDR Bundle Readme ======================================================================== Introduction ======================================================================== This bundle contains part of the original data from the MESSENGER Energetic Particle and Plasma Spectrometer (EPPS) calibrated data bundle set. Note that the EPPS is made up of two instrument subsystems, the Fast Imaging Plasma Spectrometer (FIPS), and the Energetic Particle Spectrometer (EPS). This bundle includes only the Energetic Particle Spectrometer (EPS) instrument data. Two data sets were delivered within the original data bundle, the FIPS and the EPS. This bundle is intended for the use of scientists and students in the study of the of the planet Mercury. The data may be used for research and publication. ======================================================================== Known Issues In Data ======================================================================== Some of the EPS Data Types have unusual or unexpected values users should be aware of: - The Time of Flight segment of the instrument is no longer operational. Early observations (2006) were made in a mode such that rates and fluxes for all ION and Electron channels are all zero in the early files. Only FAST and SHAPED rates are nonzero. -The "Delta" values in SCAN mode data are often negative due to low count rate statistics. -Certain PHA events are excluded by default in standard instrument team analysis as they are of indeterminate analytical value: * Events for which the multi-hit flag is set. * Events with a negative RAW Energy. * Events with Maximum (= 4095) RAW Energy. Users are advised to discard these events as well unless they have strong reasons to do otherwise. See the EPPS CDR SIS document for a more detailed explanation of these issues. ======================================================================== Contacts ======================================================================== For questions concerning these data products and documentation, contact: Planetary Plasma Interactions Node (310) 206-6073 WWW Site: http://pds-ppi.igpp.ucla.edu Electronic mail address: pds_operator@igpp.ucla.edu For questions regarding PDS Standards or other archive bundles available from the PDS, please contact PDS Operator at the PDS Central Node (at JPL): EMAIL pds_operator@jpl.nasa.gov Telephone (818) 354-4321 The PDS, and the Planetary Plasma Interactions Node in particular, assume no legal liability for errors in this bundle. All users are encouraged to verify the 'correctness' of the data prior to submitting any publications or other work based on these data.