Cassini-Huygens
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Abstract:
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The Cassini Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI) consists of three separate sensors: the Charge Energy Mass Spectrometer (CHEMS) sensor, the Low Energy Magnetospheric Measurement (LEMMS) sensor, and the Ion Neutral Camera (INCA). This combination of sensors provides the capability to perform both global imaging and in situ measurements to study the overall configuration and dynamics of Saturn's magnetosphere and its interactions with the solar wind, Saturn's atmosphere,Titan, the icy satellites and the ring particles.
The text of this instrument description has been abstracted from the instrument paper [KRIMIGISETAL2004]:
Krimigis, S.M., Magnetosphere Imaging Instrument (MIMI) on the Cassini Mission to Saturn/Titan, in Space Science Reviews, Springer Science and Business Media, B.V., formerly Kluwer AcademicPublishers B.V., Vol. 114, No. 1-4, pp. 233-329, December 2004.
Scientific Objectives:
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The MIMI instrument onboard the Cassini Orbiter has the following primary goals at Saturn: 1. Determine the global configuration and dynamics of hot plasma in the magnetosphere of Saturn through imaging and in situmeasurements.
2. Study the sources of plasma and energetic ions through in situ measurements of energetic ion composition, spectra, chargestate, and angular distributions.
3. Study magnetospheric substorm-like activity at Saturn.
4. Determine through imaging the formation of clouds of neutralhydrogen, nitrogen, and water products.
5. Investigate the modification of satellite surfaces andatmospheres through plasma and radiation bombardment.
6. Study Titan's cometary interaction with Saturn's magnetospherevia high resolution imaging and in situ measurements.
7. Measure the high energy (E_elec > 1 MeV, E_p > 15 MeV) particle component in the inner (L < 5 Rs) magnetosphere to assessCRAND source characteristics.
8. Study magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling through remote sensing of aurora and in situ measurements of precipitating energeticions and electrons.
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