The Mars orbiter magnetometer of Tianwen-1:in-flight performance and first science results

The Mars Orbiter MAGnetometer(MOMAG)is a scientific instrument onboard the orbiter of China’s first mission for Mars—Tianwen-1.Since November 13,2021,it has been recording magnetic field data from the solar wind to the magnetic pile-up region surrounding Mars.Here we present its in-flight performance and first science results,based on its first one and one-half months’data.Comparing these early MOMAG observations to the magnetic field data in the solar wind from NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN(MAVEN)mission,we report that the MOMAG magnetic field data are at the same level in magnitude,and describe the same magnetic structures with similar variations in three components.We recognize 158 clear bow shock(BS)crossings in these MOMAG data;their locations match well statistically with the modeled average BS.We also identify and compare five pairs of datasets collected when Tianwen-1’s orbiter and the MAVEN probe made simultaneous BS crossings.These BS crossings confirm the global shape of modeled BS,as well as the south-north asymmetry of the Martian BS.Two cases presented in this paper suggest that the BS is probably more dynamic at flank than near the nose.So far,MOMAG performs well,and provides accurate magnetic field vectors.MOMAG is continuously scanning the magnetic field surrounding Mars.Data from MOMAG’s measurements complement data from MAVEN and will undoubt edly advance our understanding of the plasma environment of Mars.

Ground calibration of the Mars orbiter magnetometer onboard Tianwen-1

Ground calibration experiments of the Mars orbiter magnetometer(MOMAG)onboard the orbiter of Tianwen-1 were performed to determine the sensitivity,misalignment angle,and offset of the sensors.The linearity of the applied calibrated magnetic fields and the output from the sensors were confirmed to be better than 10^(-4),and the sensor axes were orthogonal to each other within 0.5 degrees.The temperature dependencies of the sensitivity and misalignment angle were examined,but no clear signatures of temperature dependencies could be seen.Sensor offset and the stability of sensor offset drift with a temperature change were also determined by the rotation method.The stability of the sensor offset drift was less than 0.01 nT/℃.The ground calibration of MOMAG determines all the calibration parameters of the sensors for accurate magnetic field measurements in orbit with the appropriate corrections.

“天问一号”火星磁强计伸杆机构

3 m多长的伸杆机构是天问一号火星磁强计的一个重要组成部分,用于将磁通门磁强计探头伸离卫星本体以减小卫星对磁场测量的影响。火星磁强计伸杆机构是一种多关节、铰链转轴驱动的一次性展开机构。在设计时充分考虑到了其功能性、可靠性和系统约束要求等因素。力学分析和地面验证试验表明火星磁强计伸杆机构足以承受最坏情况下的在轨环境。在经历了漫长的地火转移旅程后,火星磁强计伸杆机构于2021年5月25日成功展开。展开过程耗时约4.6 s,两个探头被送至远离环绕器本体位置,其中外侧探头距离环绕器3.19 m,内侧探头距离环绕器2.29 m。展开到位后,外侧探头处所测得的磁场大小由1250 nT减弱至不到6 nT。火星磁强计伸杆机构为后续探测任务中需在低温环境下长期贮存的空间展开机构的研制提供了宝贵的工程经验。

Mars Orbiter magnetometer of China’s First Mars Mission Tianwen-1

As one of the seven scientific payloads on board the Tianwen-1 orbiter,the Mars Orbiter Magnetometer(MOMAG)will measure the magnetic fields of and surrounding Mars to study its space environment and the interaction with the solar wind.The instrument consists of two identical triaxial fluxgate magnetometer sensors,mounted on a 3.19 meter-long boom with a seperation of about 90 cm.The dual-magnetometers configuration will help eliminate the magnetic field interference generated by the spacecraft platform and payloads.The sensors are controlled by an electric box mounted inside the orbiter.Each magnetometer measures the ambient vector magnetic field over a wide dynamic range(to 10,000 nT per axis)with a resolution of 1.19 pT.Both magnetometers sample the ambient magnetic field at an intrinsic frequency of 128 Hz,but will operate in a model with alternating frequency between 1 and 32 Hz to meet telemetry allocations.