Abstract
The Advanced Composition Explorer was launched August 25, 1997 carrying six highresolution spectrometers that measure the elemental, isotopic, and ionic charge-state composition of nuclei from H to Ni (1 ≤ Z ≤ 28) from solar wind energies (∼1 keV nucl-1) to galactic cosmic-ray energies (∼500 MeV nucl-1). Data from these instruments is being used to measure and compare the elemental and isotopic composition of the solar corona, the nearby interstellar medium, and the Galaxy, and to study particle acceleration processes that occur in a wide range of environments. ACE also carries three instruments that provide the heliospheric context for ion composition studies by monitoring the state of the interplanetary medium. From its orbit about the Sun—Earth libration point ∼1.5 million km sunward of Earth, ACE also provides real-time solar wind measurements to NOAA for use in forecasting space weather. This paper provides an introduction to the ACE mission, including overviews of the scientific goals and objectives, the instrument payload, and the spacecraft and ground systems.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Chiu, M. C., Von-Mehlem, U. I., Willey, C. E., Betenbaugh, T. M., Maynard, J. J., Krein, J. A., Conde, R. F., Gray, W. T., Hunt, Jr., J. W., Mosher, L. E., McCullough, M. G., Panneton, P. E., Staiger, J. P., and Rodberg, E. H.: 1998, ‘ACE Spacecraft’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 257.
Ellison, D. C., Drury, L. O’C., and Meyer, J-P,: 1998, ‘Cosmic Rays from Supernova Remnants: A Brief Description of the Shock Acceleration of Gas and Dust’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 203.
Fisk, L. A., Schwadron, N. A., and Zurbuchen, T. H.: 1998, ‘On the Slow Solar Wind’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 51.
Frisch, P. C.: 1998, ‘Interstellar Matter and the Boundary Conditions of the Solar System’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 107.
Garrard, T. L., Hammond, J. S., Davis, A. D., and Sears, S. R.: 1998, ‘The ACE Science Center’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 651.
Gloeckler, G. and Geiss, J.: 1998, ‘Interstellar and Inner Source Pickup Ions Observed with SWICS on Ulysses’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 127.
Gloeckler, G., Bedini, P., Bochsler, P., Fisk, L. A., Geiss, J., Ipavich, F. M., Cani, J., Fischer, J., Kallenbach, R., Miller, J., Turns, O., and Wimmer, R.: 1998, ‘Investigation of the Composition of Solar and Interstellar Matter Using Solar Wind and Pickup Ion Measurements with SWICS and SWIMS on the ACE Spacecraft’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 497.
Gold, R. E., Krimigis, S. M., Hawkins, S. E., III, Haggerty, D. K., Lohr, D. A., Fiore, E., Armstrong, T. P., and Holland, G.: 1998, ‘Electron, Proton, and Alpha Monitor on the Advanced Composition Explorer Spacecraft’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 541.
Jokipii, J. R.: 1998, ‘Insight Into Cosmic-Ray Acceleration from the Study of Anomalous Cosmic Rays’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 161.
Lin, R.: 1998, ‘WIND Observations of Superthermal Electrons in the Interplanetary Medium’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 61.
Mason, G. M., Gold, R. E., Krimigis, S. M., Mazur, J. E., Andrews, G. B., Daley, K. A., Dwyer, J. R., Heuerman, K. F., James, T. L., Kennedy, M. J., LeFevere, T., Malcolm, H., Tossman, B., and Walpole, P. H.: 1998, ‘The Ultra Low Energy Isotope Spectrometer (ULEIS) for the ACE Spacecraft’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 409.
McComas, D. J., Bame, S. J., Barker, P., Feldman, W. C., Phillips, J. L., Riley, P., and Griffee, J. W.: 1998, ‘Solar Wind Electron Proton Alpha Monitor (SWEPAM) for the Advanced Composition Explorer’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 563.
Meyer, J-P., Drury, L. O’C, and Ellison, D. C.: 1998, ‘A Cosmic Ray Composition Controlled by Volatility and A/Q Ratio. SNR Acceleration of Gas and Dust’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 179.
Miller, J. A.: 1998, ‘Particle Acceleration in Impulsive Solar Flares’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 79.
Möbius, E., Hovestadt, D., Klecker, B., Kistler, L. M., Popecki, M. A., Crocker, K. N., Gliem, F., Granoff, M., Turco, S., Anderson, A., Arbinger, H., Battell, S., Cravens, J., Demain, P., Distelbrink, J., Dors, I., Dunphy, P., Ellis, S., Gaidos, J., Googins, J., Harasim, A., Hayes, R., Humphrey, G., Kastle, H., Kunneth, E., Lavasseur, J., Lund, E. J., Miller, R., Murphy, G., Pfeffermann, K., Reiche, K.-U., Sartori, E., Schimpfle, J., Seidenschwang, E., Shappirio, M., Stockner, K., Taylor, S. C., Vachon, P., Vosbury, M., Wiewesiek, and Ye, V.: 1998, ‘The Solar Energetic Particle Ionic Charge Analyzer (SEPICA) and the Data Processing Unit (S3DPU) for SWICS, SWIMS and SEPICA’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 449.
Ptuskin, V. S. and Soutoul, A.: 1998, ‘Cosmic Ray Clocks’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 225.
Simpson, J. A.: 1998, ‘Challenges for the Experiments on the Advanced Composition Explorer’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 23.
Smith, C. W., Acuña, M. H., Burlaga, L. F., L’Heureux, J., Ness, N. E, and Scheifele, J.: 1998, ‘The ACE Magnetic Fields Experiment’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 613.
Stone, E. C., Cohen, C. M. S., Cook, W. R., Cummings, A. C., Gauld, B., Kecman, B., Leske, R. A., Mewaldt, R. A., Thayer, M. R., Dougherty, B. L., Grumm, R. L., Milliken, B. D., Radocinski, R. G., Wiedenbeck, M. E., Christian, E. R., Shuman, S., Trexel, H., von Rosenvinge, T. T., Binns, W. R., Dowkontt, P., Epstein, J., Hink, P. L., Klarmann, J., Lijowksi, M., and Olevitch, M. A.: 1998a, ‘The Cosmic Ray Isotope Spectrometer for the Advanced Composition Explorer’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 285.
Stone, E. C., Cohen, C. M. S., Cook, W. R., Cummings, A. C., Gauld, B., Kecman, B., Leske, R. A., Mewaldt, R. A., Thayer, M. R., Dougherty, B. L., Grumm, R. L., Milliken, B. D., Radocinski, R. G., Wiedenbeck, M. E., Christian, E. R., Shuman, S., and von Rosenvinge, T. T.: 1998b, ‘The Solar Isotope Spectrometer for the Advanced Composition Explorer’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 357.
Webber, W. R.: 1998, ‘What are the Limits for ACE Galactic Cosmic Ray Isotope Studies?’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 239.
Zwickl, R., Doggett, K., Sahm, S., Barrett, B., Grubb, R., Detman, T., Raben, V., Smith, C. W., Riley, P., Gold, R., Mewaldt, R. A., and Maruyama, T: 1998, ‘The NOAA Real-Time Solar Wind (RTSW) System Using ACE Data’, Space Sci. Rev. 86, 633.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Stone, E.C. et al. (1998). The Advanced Composition Explorer. In: Russell, C.T., Mewaldt, R.A., Von Rosenvinge, T.T. (eds) The Advanced Composition Explorer Mission. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4762-0_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4762-0_1
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6001-1
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-4762-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive