Speaker
Description
The 3DEES is conceived as a compact and modular science-class spectrometer allowing angle resolved high electron energy coverage (0.1 – 10 MeV) using a few sensors. Its baseline set-up provides capabilities to measure angular distribution of electrons and protons at 12 angles spanning over 180° in two planes. The 3DEES also allows measurements of proton fluxes (4-50 MeV), while performing absolute electron-proton discrimination for protons up to 200 MeV.
The 3DEES is built within a consortium including QinetiQ Space, the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA/IASB) and UCLouvain. A first technology demonstration model is foreseen to fly on-board PROBA-3, actually programmed to be launched in 2022 into a highly elliptical orbit: 60 530 km apogee, 600 km perigee, 59° inclination, 19.7 hours orbital period. With these orbital parameters, the satellite will cover parts of the inner belt, outer belt and mostly the boarder of the magnetosphere. Hence, the ultimate objectives of the 3DEES mission are to give an accurate picture of the high-energy electron population in the magnetosphere for scientific studies of their acceleration and loss processes and to deliver Space Weather data for now- and forecasting activities. It completes the PROBA-V/EPT (Energetic Particle Telescope) mission with additional data at high altitude.
The talk will give a general presentation of the instrument wherein the main features of the 3DEES will be revisited, focusing on the design, building and calibration of the prototype sensor stack that includes four 1.5 mm thick sensors and adjacent electronics and which particularity is that it is moulded in order to achieve miniaturization and mechanical robustness. Finally, the planned accommodation of 3DEES on-board PROBA-3, the concessions and technical updates that needed to be done due to its proposed late integration, will shortly be described.
