Data Description

This page summarizes information about the selected resource and its origin based on SPASE metadata.

Table of Contents

  1. Product
  2. Repository
  3. Instruments
  4. Observatory
  5. Persons

SPASE version 2.0.0

Numerical Data Product: Helios 2 hourly merged magnetic field and plasma data

Resource ID
spase://VHO/NumericalData/Helios2/MAGandPLS/PT1H Get XML
Name
Helios 2 hourly merged magnetic field and plasma data
Description

This is an hourly resolution, merged magnetic field and plasma data set created at NSSDC for COHOWeb. Magnetic field vectors and plasma flow direction angles are given in RTN coordinates. Spacecraft position data are given in Heliographic inertial (HGI coordinates).

Additional information
nssdcftp readme
Acknowledgement

Please acknowledge N.F. Ness (P.I.) and F. Mariani for magnetic field data and H. Rosenbauer (P.I.) and R. Schwenn for plasma data, and NSSDC or GSFC-SPDF

Contact
Role Person
1. Principal investigator Dr. Norman F. Ness Get XML
2. Principal investigator Dr. Helmut R. Rosenbauer Get XML
3. CoInvestigator Prof. Franco Mariani Get XML
4. CoInvestigator Dr. Rainer Schwenn Get XML
5. General contact Dr. Natalia E. Papitashvili Get XML
Release date
2009-05-20 19:08:30
Repository
Name
SPDF Get XML
Availability
Online
Access rights
Open
URL
nssdcftp

for annual files via ftp

COHOWeb plots and lists

Helios 2-specific page for plots and lists

COHOweb top page

Plots, lists, scatter plots, regressions, distributions, means, etc.

Format
Text
File size
1.2 MB per 1 year
Acknowledgement

Please acknowledge N.F. Ness (P.I.) and F. Mariani for magnetic field data and H. Rosenbauer (P.I.) and R. Schwenn for plasma data, and NSSDC or GSFC-SPDF

Instruments
Helios 2 E1 Plasma Experiment Get XML
Fluxgate Magnetometer for Average Fields Get XML
Measurement type
Magnetic field
Thermal plasma
Temporal description
Start date
1976-01-17 00:00:00
Stop date
1980-03-04 00:00:00
Cadence
1 hour
Observed regions
Heliosphere.Inner
↑

Parameters

Parameter #1

Name
Year
Parameter key
Column1
Description

Four digit Year

Cadence
1 hour
Fill value
999.9999
Parameter type
Temporal

Parameter #2

Name
Day
Parameter key
Column2
Description

Decimal Day of Year

Cadence
1 hour
Fill value
999.9999
Parameter type
Temporal

Parameter #3

Name
Hour
Parameter key
Column3
Description

Hour

Cadence
1 hour
Fill value
999.9999
Parameter type
Temporal

Parameter #4

Name
Carrington Rotation Number
Parameter key
Column4
Description

Carrington Rotation Number seen by an Earth based observer at the start of the data interval

Cadence
1 hour
Fill value
999.9999
Parameter type
Temporal

Parameter #5

Name
H2 radial distance
Parameter key
Column05
Description

Heliocentric radial distance of Helios 2 in AU

Cadence
1 hour
Units
AU
Parameter type
Positional

Parameter #6

Name
H2 latitude
Parameter key
Column06
Description

Heliographic Inertial elevation angle of Helios 2 in deg

Cadence
1 hour
Units
deg
Coordinate system
Spherical HGI
Parameter type
Positional

Parameter #7

Name
H2 longitude
Parameter key
Column07
Description

Heliographic Inertial azimuthal angle of Helios 2 in deg

Cadence
1 hour
Units
deg
Coordinate system
Spherical HGI
Parameter type
Positional

Parameter #8

Name
ESS angle
Parameter key
Column08
Description

Earth-Sun-Spacecraft separation angle

Cadence
1 hour
Units
deg
Parameter type
Positional

Parameter #9

Name
Magnetic Field Vector, SSE
Description

Hourly averages of SSE (spacecraft-centric solar ecliptic) components of fine time scale magnetic field vectors

Cadence
1 hour
Units
nT
Coordinate system
Cartesian SSE
Structure
Size
3
Description

X,Y,Z components

Elements
Index Name Component Parameter key
1 X component I Column09
2 Y component J Column10
3 Z component K Column11
Fill value
99999.99
Quantity
Magnetic field
Qualifier
Vector

Parameter #10

Name
Magnetic Field Vector, RTN
Description

Hourly averages of RTN components of fine time scale magnetic field vectors

Cadence
1 hour
Units
nT
Coordinate system
Cartesian RTN
Structure
Size
3
Description

R,T,N components

Elements
Index Name Component Parameter key
1 R component I Column12
2 T component J Column13
3 N component K Column14
Fill value
99999.99
Quantity
Magnetic field
Qualifier
Vector

Parameter #11

Name
Magnetic Field Magnitude
Parameter key
Column15
Description

Hourly average of fine time scale magnetic field magnitudes

Cadence
1 hour
Units
nT
Fill value
99999.99
Quantity
Magnetic field
Qualifier
Magnitude

Parameter #12

Name
Flow speed
Parameter key
Column16
Description

Hourly averaged solar wind plasma flow speed

Cadence
1 hour
Units
km/s
Fill value
9999.9
Particle type
Proton
Quantity
Flow speed
Qualifier
Average

Parameter #13

Name
Flow elevation angle
Parameter key
Column17
Description

Hourly averaged solar wind plasma flow elevation angle

Cadence
1 hour
Units
deg
Coordinate system
Spherical RTN
Fill value
9999.9
Particle type
Proton
Quantity
Flow velocity
Qualifier
Elevation angle

Parameter #14

Name
Flow azimuth angle
Parameter key
Column18
Description

Hourly averaged solar wind plasma flow azimuthal angle

Cadence
1 hour
Units
Coordinate system
Spherical RTN
Fill value
9999.9
Particle type
Proton
Quantity
Flow velocity
Qualifier
Azimuth angle

Parameter #15

Name
Density
Parameter key
Column19
Description

Hourly averaged solar wind plasma density

Cadence
1 hour
Units
n/cc
Fill value
999.9
Particle type
Proton
Quantity
Number density
Qualifier
Average

Parameter #16

Name
Temperature
Parameter key
Column20
Description

Hourly averaged solar wind plasma temperature (radial component)

Cadence
1 hour
Units
degK
Fill value
9999999.
Particle type
Proton
Quantity
Temperature
Qualifier
Average
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Instrument: Helios 2 E1 Plasma Experiment

Instrument ID
spase://SMWG/Instrument/Helios2/E1 Get XML
Name
Helios 2 E1 Plasma Experiment
Alternate name
Helios 2 E1
Description

The E1 plasma experiment aboard the Helios solar probes consists of four independent instruments designed to investigate the solar wind plasma. By measuring the velocity distribution functions of the different kinds of particles, all important hydrodynamic parameters of the solar wind plasma can be derived. Three instruments (I1a, I1b, and I3) analyze the positive components (protons and heavier ions with energy-per-charge values from 0.155 to 15.32 kV) of the solar wind. Two of them allow for an angular resolution in both directions of incidence. The experiment employed a combination of a hemispherical, a quadrispherical, and a sinusoidally-shaped electrostatic analyzer.

All detectors were mounted normal to the spin axis.

One instrument (I2) measures electrons in the energy range from 0.5 the 1660 eV with one-dimensional angular resolution using a hemispherical electrostatic analyzer.

For more detailed information see p. 226 of Raumfahrtforschung, v. 19, n. 5, 1975.

Acknowledgement

User will acknowledge the Helios 2 Plasma Experiment PI F. H. R. Rosenbauer in any publication resulting from the use of these data.

Contact
Role Person
1. Data producer Dr. Rainer Schwenn Get XML
2. Principal investigator Dr. Helmut R. Rosenbauer Get XML
Release date
2009-05-20 21:10:15
Instrument type
Electrostatic Analyser
Investigation name
E1 Plasma Experiment
Observatory
Helios 2 Get XML
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Instrument: Fluxgate Magnetometer for Average Fields

Instrument ID
spase://SMWG/Instrument/Helios2/E3 Get XML
Name
Fluxgate Magnetometer for Average Fields
Description

This experiment (E3) consisted of a boom-mounted triaxial-fluxgate magnetometer. An automatic inflight range switch system selected the optimum of four ranges: minus to plus 16, 48, 144, and 432 nT per sensor. These had corresponding digitization resolutions of minus to plus 0.03, 0.09, 0.28, and 0.84 nT. A sensor flipper was actuated every 36 h to assist in sensor zero level determination. For telemetry bit rates above 256 bps, vector measurements were made at rates between 1 and 16 per s, depending on bit rates. At lower bit rates, averages and variances were computed on board for transmission to earth. For further details, see pp. 237-240 of Raumfahrtforschung, v. 19, n. 5, 1975.

Additional information
NSSDC's Master Catalog

Information about the Fluxgate Magnetometer for Average Fields experiment on the Helios-B mission.

Contact
Role Person
1. Principal investigator Dr. Norman F. Ness Get XML
Release date
2009-05-20 21:10:15
Instrument type
Magnetometer
Investigation name
Fluxgate Magnetometer for Average Fields on Helios-B
Observatory
Helios 2 Get XML
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Observatory: Helios 2

Observatory ID
spase://SMWG/Observatory/Helios2 Get XML
Name
Helios 2
Alternate name
Helios-B
Description

This spacecraft was one of a pair of deep-space probes developed by the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in a cooperative program with NASA. Experiments were provided by scientists from both FRG and the U.S. NASA supplied the Titan/Centaur launch vehicle. The spacecraft was equipped with two booms and a 32-m electric dipole. The payload consisted of a fluxgate magnetometer; electric and magnetic wave experiments, which covered various bands in the frequency range 6 Hz to 3 MHz; charged particle experiments, which covered various energy ranges starting with solar wind thermal energies and extending to 1 GeV; a zodiacal light experiment; and a micrometeoroid experiment. The purpose of the mission was to make pioneering measurements of the interplanetary medium from the vicinity of the earth's orbit to 0.3 AU. The spacecraft was spin stabilized with the spin axis normal to the ecliptic, and a nominal spin rate of 1 rps. The outer surface was coated with a conductive material, resulting in a plasma-sheath potential of typically 5 eV. Sheath-related coupling caused by the spacecraft antennae produced interference with the wave experiments, but the character of the interference was different from that observed on the Helios-A spacecraft. The spacecraft was capable of being operated at bit rates of from 4096 to 8 bps, variable by factors of two. While the spacecraft was moving to perihelion, it was generally operated from 64 to 256 bps; near 0.3 AU, it was operated at higher bit rates. Because of difficulty encountered with the high-gain antenna, and scheduling conflicts with Viking, relatively fewer high-bit-rate data were obtained from Helios-B than were available from Helios-A. Instrument descriptions written by the experiments are published (some in German, some in English) in the journal Raumfahrtforschung, v. 19, n. 5, 1975.

Additional information
NSSDC's Master Catalog

Information about the Helios-B mission

Contact
Role Person
1. Project scientist Dr. James H. Trainor Get XML
2. Project scientist Dr. Herbert Porsche Get XML
Release date
2009-05-20 20:00:12
Prior ID
spase://vspo/observatory/44
Observatory group
HELIOS
Location
Region
Heliosphere.Inner
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Dr. Norman F. Ness

Name
Dr. Norman F. Ness
Organization
University of Delaware
Email
nfness@bartol.udel.edu
Phone
+1-302-831-8116
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Norman.F.Ness Get XML
Release date
2000-07-31 00:00:00
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Dr. Helmut R. Rosenbauer

Name
Dr. Helmut R. Rosenbauer
Organization
Max-Planck-Institut fur Aeronomie
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Helmut.R.Rosenbauer Get XML
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Prof. Franco Mariani

Name
Prof. Franco Mariani
Organization
Istituto di Fisica G. Marconi
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Franco.Mariani Get XML
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Dr. Rainer Schwenn

Name
Dr. Rainer Schwenn
Organization
Max-Planck-Institut fur Aeronomie
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Rainer.Schwenn Get XML
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Dr. Natalia E. Papitashvili

Name
Dr. Natalia E. Papitashvili
Organization
GSFC-Code 612.4
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Natalia.E.Papitashvili Get XML
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Ms. Tamara J. Kovalick

Name
Ms. Tamara J. Kovalick
Organization
GSFC-Code 672
Email
Tamara.J.Kovalick@nasa.gov
Phone
+1-301-286-9422
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Tamara.J.Kovalick Get XML
Release date
2008-03-19 00:00:00
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Mr. Robert M. Candey

Name
Mr. Robert M. Candey
Organization
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Address
Code 672, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Email
robert.m.candey@nasa.gov
Phone
1-301-286-6707
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Robert.M.Candey Get XML
Release date
2007-05-30 19:43:56
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Dr. Robert E. McGuire

Name
Dr. Robert E. McGuire
Organization
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Address
Code 672, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Email
mcguire@mail630.gsfc.nasa.gov
Phone
1-301-286-7794
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Robert.E.McGuire Get XML
Release date
2007-05-30 15:25:24
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Dr. James H. Trainor

Name
Dr. James H. Trainor
Organization
Deceased - formerly at GSFC
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/James.H.Trainor Get XML
Release date
2003-10-20 00:00:00
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Dr. Herbert Porsche

Name
Dr. Herbert Porsche
Organization
DLR
Phone
+1-49-8153-28-505
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Herbert.Porsche Get XML
Release date
2003-01-31 00:00:00
↑

SPASE version 1.3.0

Repository: SPDF

Repository ID
spase://SMWG/Repository/NASA/GSFC/SPDF Get XML
Name
SPDF
Description

Space Physics Data Facility

Additional information
SPDF

Space Physics Data Facility

Contact
Role Person
1. General contact Ms. Tamara J. Kovalick Get XML
2. Technical contact Mr. Robert M. Candey Get XML
3. Project scientist Dr. Robert E. McGuire Get XML
Release date
2008-08-26 21:02:30
Prior IDs
spase://vspo/repository/61
spase://SMWG/Repository/SPDF
↑