Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
The SERENA combines four sensors into one scientific package: emitted
low-energy neutral atoms (ELENA) is a neutral particle camera that inves-
tigates neutral gases escaping from the surface of Mercury, their dynamics
and the processes responsible for such a population, start from a rotat-
ing field mass spectrometer (STROFIO) is a neutral particle spectrometer
which investigates the exospheric gas composition, miniature ion precipita-
tion analyser (MIPA) is an ion monitor investigating the chain of processes
by which plasma precipitate towards the surface, and planetary ion cam-
era (PICAM) an ion mass spectrometer operating as an all-sky camera
for charged particles to study the chain of processes by which neutrals are
ejected from the soil, ionized and transported through the environment of
Mercury.
2.4.7.
BepiColombo laser altimeter
The BepiColombo laser altimeter (BELA) instrument scientific goals are
characterizing and measuring the figure, topography, and surface morphol-
ogy of Mercury. The BELA will provide absolute topographic height and
position with respect to a Mercury centered coordinate system. This infor-
mation will be used to create a digital terrain model that allows to invert
the gravity field of Mercury data, acquired by MORE instrument, for inter-
nal structure and to quantitatively explore the geology, the tectonics, and
the age of the planet's surface. The returned laser signal can be used to
measure the local surface roughness and the albedo. In synergy with other
instrument results it will also be possible to explore the interior structure
and the geologic evolution of the planet.
2.4.8.
Mercury magnetometer
The primary objective of Mercury magnetometer (MERMAG) is to provide
the measurements that will lead to the detailed description of Mercury's
planetary magnetic field and its source. The goal is to contribute to the
understanding of the origin, evolution, and current state of the planetary
interior. The determination of all the terms associated with the internal
field up to the octopole with high accuracy as well as higher order terms,
depending on the structure of the internal field should also be possible.
The secondary objectives of MERMAG relate to the interaction of the
solar wind with the magnetic field of Mercury and the planet itself, the for-
mation and dynamics of the magnetosphere as well as to the processes that
control the interaction of the magnetosphere with the planet. In particular,
