Cooperative sensor calibration: Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) neutral mass spectrometer and total pressure sensor

Mark T. Boies; Richard C. Benson; James D. Kinnison; John S. Morgan; Terry E. Phillips; O. Manuel Uy; William L. Wilkinson

doi:10.1117/12.190143

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19 October 1994 Cooperative sensor calibration: Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) neutral mass spectrometer and total pressure sensor

Mark T. Boies, Richard C. Benson, James D. Kinnison, John S. Morgan, Terry E. Phillips, O. Manuel Uy, William L. Wilkinson

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Proceedings Volume 2261, Optical System Contamination: Effects, Measurements, and Control IV; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.190143
Event: SPIE's 1994 International Symposium on Optics, Imaging, and Instrumentation, 1994, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The certainty with which low density gas measurements can be made on a space based platform is improved by cooperative sensor calibration. The Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) spacecraft has a suite of 10 contamination monitoring instruments for measuring particulates and gases. Two of these sensors (the Total Pressure Sensor (TPS) and the Neutral Mass Spectrometer (NMS), are specifically designed to measure pressure and are located and directed in a fashion which allows for cross characterization. By their very nature, contamination instruments are difficult to test for accuracy after launch. They are intended to provide the scientific community with a measurement of spacecraft outgassing (in order to validate MSX contamination models and the effectiveness of the contamination control plan) and environmental species. Since neither environment nor spacecraft outgassing is precisely known, an accurate calibration source is not available. Consequently, the best method of verifying flight performance is the comparison of measurements by similar instruments. The early mission environment will provide an opportunity to compare the instrument performance in Argon, Water, and Helium. The stand alone calibration and cross characterization results for the TPS and NMS will be presented.

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Mark T. Boies, Richard C. Benson, James D. Kinnison, John S. Morgan, Terry E. Phillips, O. Manuel Uy, and William L. Wilkinson "Cooperative sensor calibration: Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) neutral mass spectrometer and total pressure sensor", Proc. SPIE 2261, Optical System Contamination: Effects, Measurements, and Control IV, (19 October 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.190143

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