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):
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