A Prototype of a Miniature Solar Wind Analyzer for Small Spacecrafts

Abstract

The work is dedicated to solving the problem of miniaturization of plasma instruments, in particular, the development of a miniature ion analyzer for small spacecraft. The described instrument can be used as part of a prognostic and diagnostic complex designed to monitor the conditions in the solar wind and detect critical events. The target parameters of the instrument include the ability to separate protons and α particles in the energy range of 500–10 000 eV with an energy resolution ΔE/E not worse than 10%. The flight unit should comply with the 1U form factor of the CubeSat standard.