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SLED-2

Device name:SLED-2
Project name:MARS-96
Space probe:MARS-8
Space launcher:PROTON-K
Spaceport:Baikonur
Launch date:16.11.1996
Pericentre [km]:-
Apocentre [km]:-
Inclination [°]:-
Orbital period:-
Orientation:3ax-heliocentric

The space device SLED-2 (SoLar wind Energetic particle Detector), has been developed for the MARS-96 mission in the frame of international cooperation IEP-SAS with Laboratory of Space technology, National University of Ireland STIL-NUIM in Maynooth, Max-Planck Institute for Aeronomy MPAE in Katlenburg-Lindau (Germany), Astronomical Institute ASU in Prague, Institute of Space Research IKI in Moscow and Research Institute for Nuclear and Particle Physics KFKI , in Budapest.

The scientific objectives of the SLED-2 include registration of angular and energetic distribution of ions over full solid angle 4-PI on the cruise trajectory Earth - Mars and on the Marsu orbit, where anisotropic figure of charged particles flux should indicate the magneticaly trapped particles. For the angular distribution of ions, a solid sensor system has been developed, consisting of four telescopes in tetrahedron configuration, each of them equipped with SmCo broom magnets. Moreover, one electron telescope equipped with polyester foil (3um) was added to the sensor system. Each of five telescopes contained two advanced ion-implanted semiconductor detectors (PIPS).

The scientific information of SLED-2 included integral intensities of the particle flux from all five telescopes, coincident signals and background signals as well as information from a 12-channel amplitude analyzer. The housekeeping information included working voltages and temperatures. The microcomputer of the device was based on NSC800 processor running under multitasking operational system ZOS. The SLED-2 device successfully passed all demanding qualification tests and was launched to the space in 100% health.

The MARS-96 mission was launched on 16-Nov-1996 from spaceport Baykonour. The space launcher PROTON-K reliably lifted-off the probe on the Low Earth Orbit in 160 km altitude. Another thrust was allocated on the D2 rocket module and the final acceleration to reach the escape velocity was up to main thruster of the MARS-96 probe. However, due to the D2 failure, the probe never reached the escape velocity and after two orbits crashed down in southern Pacific ocean.

More popular about the project (in Slovak only):
Na palube kozmických sond - magazine for science and technology QUARK 2000/5


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