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MISSION: SOLAR SENTINELS - planned launch about 2016
INSTRUMENTS OF INTEREST
- INNER HELIOSPHERIC SENTINELS (4)
- HICA: High energy Ion Composition Analyser
- USE: Situational and Exposure Monitoring - Information on charged particle and electron exposures as well as the ability to distinguish between impulsive SPE and gradual CME events by measuring 3He/4He, Fe/O, and Fe/C ratios.
- LIMITAION: charged particle energy range measurements planned for up to 500 MeV/nucleon.
- SUGGESTION: increase capabilities to GeV/nucleon or beyond.
- MAG: Magnetometer
- USE: Situation monitoring - to determine magnetic field lines and event connectivity.
- GRS: Gamma Ray Spectrometer
- USE: Determine free-space gamma ray component and indirectly to provide information on acceleration of relativistic electrons to be used as a predictor of upcoming event.
- NS: Neutron Spectrometer
- USE - Situational monitoring, general characterization of the neutron field.
- LIMITATION - would like spectral information to 500 MeV.
- STE: Suprathermal Electron Instrument
- USE: Distinguish between electron spectra in impulsive vs. gradual SEP events and use impulsive SEP electrons as tracer / correlation of magnetic connectivity.
- XRI: X-Ray Imager
- USE: Directly detect and image electron acceleration with stereoscopic imaging possible. Could possibly locate impulsive events at the Sun through bremsstrahlung X-ray emission.
- SWI: Solar Wind Ion Analyzer
- USE: Monitor solar wind bulk parameters for density, vector and velocity.
- NEAR EARTH SENTINEL (1)
- CHORONAGRAPHS: UVSC (Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Coronagraph) and WIFCO (Wide- and Inner-Field Coronagraph)
- USE: In conjunction, should help determine onset, structure, and initial acceleration of CMEs for development of a "CME tracker" display.
- FAR SIDE SENTINEL (1)
- FSM: Far-side Sentinel Magnetograph
- USE: Back side monitoring of connectivity / activity. Expands the little far side information currently available by returning magnetic vector information.
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