A central objective of the group is to exploit the unique opportunities offered by upcoming missions in which we have access to important data sets thanks to our active instrument building collaborations.
The ISTP Program, an international constellation of spacecraft including Cluster II, Polar, IMAGE and Geotail , together with associated
missions such as Wind, SOHO and groundbased observations, are producing a wealth of data which will transform the scope of space
physics.
These new missions will put us in an excellent position to answer major questions in Space Plasma Physics, and build on the work of our previous missions.
Studies of storms, and substorm onset and dynamics, build on our work with CRRES, while cusp and boundary layer studies are based on our experience with AMPTE. Our work includes Theory and Simulations, and interacts strongly with the Ionospheric Group at RAL, who work on EISCAT and run the World Data Centre.
We are involved in producing instruments for a number of past, present and future space missions. We aim to continually improve our range of new instrumental techniques.
Our areas of special expertise include VLSI chips, Software, Microchannel Plates, and High Voltage sets. We are involved in a number of missions for Imaging Energetic Neutral Atoms including the NASA IMAGE MIDEX mission, TWINS, a Stereo Neutral Imaging mission using Molniya orbits, and the RAPID instrument on Cluster II . We will supply the detectors on ASPERA, the Swedish led Neutral Imager on Mars Express.
We are extending our programs to the plasma environments of other planets, such as such as the Moon, Saturn and Mercury, and in interplanetary space.
The launch of the Cassini mission to Saturn is be an important step. We have an active planetary program. We are also currently involved in other missions to the Moon and Mars.
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