Context.On 2020 November 29, the first widespread solar energetic particle (SEP) event of solar cycle 25 was observed at four widely separated locations in the inner (≲1 AU) heliosphere. Relativistic electrons as well as protons with energies > 50 MeV were observed by Solar Orbiter (SolO), Parker Solar Probe, the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO)-A and multiple near-Earth spacecraft. The SEP event was associated with an M4.4 class X-ray flare and accompanied by a coronal mass ejection and an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wave as well as a type II radio burst and multiple type III radio bursts.Aims.We present multi-spacecraft particle observations and place them in context with source observations from remote sensing instruments and discuss how such observations may further our understanding of particle acceleration and transport in this widespread event.Methods.Velocity dispersion analysis (VDA) and time shift analysis (TSA) were used to infer the particle release times at the Sun. Solar wind plasma and magnetic field measurements were examined to identify structures that influence the properties of the energetic particles such as their intensity. Pitch angle distributions and first-order anisotropies were analyzed in order to characterize the particle propagation in the interplanetary medium.Results.We find that during the 2020 November 29 SEP event, particles spread over more than 230° in longitude close to 1 AU. The particle onset delays observed at the different spacecraft are larger as the flare–footpoint angle increases and are consistent with those from previous STEREO observations. Comparing the timing when the EUV wave intersects the estimated magnetic footpoints of each spacecraft with particle release times from TSA and VDA, we conclude that a simple scenario where the particle release is only determined by the EUV wave propagation is unlikely for this event. Observations of anisotropic particle distributions at SolO, Wind, and STEREO-A do not rule out that particles are injected over a wide longitudinal range close to the Sun. However, the low values of the first-order anisotropy observed by near-Earth spacecraft suggest that diffusive propagation processes are likely involved.

We report observations of a relatively long period of3He-rich solar energetic particles (SEPs) measured by Solar Orbiter. The period consists of several well-resolved ion injections. The high-resolution STEREO-A imaging observations reveal that the injections coincide with extreme ultraviolet jets and brightenings near the east limb, not far from the nominal magnetic connection of Solar Orbiter. The jets originated in two adjacent, large, and complex active regions, as observed by the Solar Dynamics Observatory when the regions rotated into the Earth’s view. It appears that the sustained ion injections were related to the complex configuration of the sunspot group and the long period of3He-rich SEPs to the longitudinal extent covered by the group during the analyzed time period.

Context. Solar Orbiter, launched in February 2020, started its cruise phase in June 2020, in coincidence with its first perihelion at 0.51 au from the Sun. The in situ instruments onboard, including the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD), operate continuously during the cruise phase enabling the observation of solar energetic particles. Aims. In situ measurements of the first near-relativistic solar electron events observed in July 2020 by EPD are analyzed and the solar origins and the conditions for the interplanetary transport of these particles investigated. Methods. Electron observations from keV energies to the near-relativistic range were combined with the detection of type III radio bursts and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) observations from multiple spacecraft in order to identify the solar origin of the electron events. Electron anisotropies and timing as well as the plasma and magnetic field environment were evaluated to characterize the interplanetary transport conditions. Results. All electron events were clearly associated with type III radio bursts. EUV jets were also found in association with all of them except one. A diversity of time profiles and pitch-angle distributions was observed. Different source locations and different magnetic connectivity and transport conditions were likely involved. The July 11 event was also detected by Wind, separated 107 degrees in longitude from Solar Orbiter. For the July 22 event, the Suprathermal Electron and Proton sensor of EPD allowed for us to not only resolve multiple electron injections at low energies, but it also provided an exceptionally high pitch-angle resolution of a very anisotropic beam. This, together with radio observations of local Langmuir waves suggest a very good magnetic connection during the July 22 event. This scenario is challenged by a high-frequency occultation of the type III radio burst and a nominally non-direct connection to the source; therefore, magnetic connectivity requires further investigation.

Context. Following a multi-year minimum of solar activity, a solar energetic particle event on 2020 Nov. 29 was observed by multiple spacecraft covering a wide range of solar longitudes including ACE, the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory-A, and the recently launched Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter. Aims. Multi-point observations of a solar particle event, combined with remote-sensing imaging of flaring, shocks, and coronal mass ejections allows for a global picture of the event to be synthesized, and made available to the modeling community to test, constrain, and refine models of particle acceleration and transport according to such parameters as shock geometries and particle mass-to-charge ratios. Methods. Detailed measurements of heavy ion intensities, time dependence, fluences, and spectral slopes provided the required test data for this study. Results. The heavy ion abundances, timing, and spectral forms for this event fall well within the range found in prior surveys at 1 au. The spectra were well fitted by broken power law shapes; the Fe/O ratio was somewhat lower than the average of other events. In addition, 3 He/ 4 He was very low, with only the upper limits established here.

We report observations of five impulsive solar energetic particle (SEP) events observed inside 1 au during the first perihelion pass of the Solar Orbiter mission, which was launched in February 2020. These small events were all reasonably associated with active regions observed from Earth but which had rotated out of view by the time of the Solar Orbiter observations. Even though most of the events were small, their spectral forms, 3 He content, and association with type III bursts convincingly identifies them as 3 He-rich impulsive SEP events with properties similar to those previously observed at 1 au. Three of the events showed fast ion rise times, and two of them had long-lasting anisotropies consistent with the Compton-Getting effect.

Context. The Solar Orbiter spacecraft cruised in the inner heliosphere during Feb. 2020 – Jan. 2021, moving between ∼0.5–1.0 au radial distance. The Energetic Particle Detector suite operated continuously during this period. Aims. The Suprathermal Ion Spectrograph and High Energy Telescope observations made during intervals in between transient intensity increases were used to determine the low energy ion spectra and composition during quiet times. Methods. Energetic particle spectra and major ion components, including 3He, were measured over the range ∼0.1–100 MeV nucleon−1. The radial dependence of 4.4 MeV nucleon−1 4He and O was measured. A short interval of extremely low intensities (“super-quiet”) was also studied. Results. Spectra measured during the quiet period showed transitions, including galactic cosmic rays (> 50 MeV nucleon−1), anomalous cosmic rays (a few to ∼50 MeV nucleon−1), and a steeply rising “turn-up” spectrum below a few MeV nucleon−1 whose composition resembled impulsive, 3He-rich solar energetic particle events. The radial dependence had large uncertainties but was consistent with a small gradient. During the super-quiet interval, the higher energy components remained similar to the quiet period, while the approximately flat low energy 4He spectrum extended downward, reaching ∼300 keV nucleon−1 before transitioning to a steeply rising spectrum.

The first orbit of Solar Orbiter provided comprehensive measurements of six corotating interaction regions (CIRs) within 1 au. Five of these CIRs were also observed by ACE at 1 au, allowing for comparisons of the suprathermal ion intensities and spectra at different radial distances. Only subtle modulations of the 4 He spectral slopes are observed between Solar Orbiter and ACE. Additionally, the radial gradients of 226−320 keV/nuc 4 He ion intensities between Solar Orbiter and ACE are similar to that of 1.53 MeV H reported by Van Hollebeke et al. (1978, J. Geophys. Res., 83, A10). These observations provide a new addition to the study of the radial dependence of CIR-associated suprathermal ions in the inner heliosphere.

The Solar Orbiter flyby of Venus on 27 December 2020 allowed for an opportunity to measure the suprathermal to energetic ions in the Venusian system over a large range of radial distances to better understand the acceleration processes within the system and provide a characterization of galactic cosmic rays near the planet. Bursty suprathermal ion enhancements (up to ∼10 keV) were observed as far as ∼50 R V downtail. These enhancements are likely related to a combination of acceleration mechanisms in regions of strong turbulence, current sheet crossings, and boundary layer crossings, with a possible instance of ion heating due to ion cyclotron waves within the Venusian tail. Upstream of the planet, suprathermal ions are observed that might be related to pick-up acceleration of photoionized exospheric populations as far as 5 R V upstream in the solar wind as has been observed before by missions such as Pioneer Venus Orbiter and Venus Express. Near the closest approach of Solar Orbiter, the Galactic cosmic ray (GCR) count rate was observed to decrease by approximately 5 percent, which is consistent with the amount of sky obscured by the planet, suggesting a negligible abundance of GCR albedo particles at over 2 R V . Along with modulation of the GCR population very close to Venus, the Solar Orbiter observations show that the Venusian system, even far from the planet, can be an effective accelerator of ions up to ∼30 keV. This paper is part of a series of the first papers from the Solar Orbiter Venus flyby.

Earth and Space Science Open Archive PosterOpen AccessYou are viewing the latest version by default [v1]The Long Period of 3He-rich Solar Energetic Particles Measured by Solar Orbiter 2020 November 17–23AuthorsRadoslavBucikiDGlennMasonRaulGomez-HerreroiDDavidLarioiDLauraBalmacedaNariakiNittaVratislavKruparNinaDresingGeorgeHoiDRobertAllenFernandoCarcaboso-MoralesiDJavierRodriguez-PachecoFredericSchulleriDAlexanderWarmuthRobertWimmer-SchweingruberiDJohanFreiherr von ForstnerGAndrewsLarsBergerIgnacioCernudaiDFranciscoEspinosa LaraiDW.LeesCesarMartin-GarciaDanielPachecoManuelPrietoiDSebastianSanchez PrietoiDCharlesSchlemmHelmutSeifertKushTyagiMilanMaksimoviciDAntonioVecchioAlexanderKollhoffPatrickKühlZigongXuiDSandraEldrumSee all authors Radoslav BucikiDCorresponding Author• Submitting AuthorSouthwest Research InstituteiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7381-6949view email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressGlenn MasonJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratoryview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressRaul Gomez-HerreroiDUniversity of AlcaláiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5705-9236view email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressDavid LarioiDNASA Goddard Space Flight CenteriDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3176-8704view email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressLaura BalmacedaGeorge Mason University Fairfaxview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressNariaki NittaLockheed Martin Advanced Technology Centerview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressVratislav KruparUniversity of Maryland Baltimore Countyview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressNina DresingUniversity of Turkuview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressGeorge HoiDJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics LaboratoryiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1093-2066view email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressRobert AllenJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratoryview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressFernando Carcaboso-MoralesiDUniversity of AlcaláiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1758-6194view email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressJavier Rodriguez-PachecoUniversity of Alcaláview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressFrederic SchulleriDLeibniz Institute for Astrophysics PotsdamiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2609-1604view email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressAlexander WarmuthLeibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdamview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressRobert Wimmer-SchweingruberiDUniversity of KieliDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7388-173Xview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressJohan Freiherr von ForstnerUniversity of Kielview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressG AndrewsJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratoryview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressLars BergerUniversity of Kielview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressIgnacio CernudaiDUniversity of AlcaláiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8432-5379view email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressFrancisco Espinosa LaraiDUniversity of AlcaláiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9039-8822view email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressW. LeesJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratoryview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressCesar Martin-GarciaUniversity of Kielview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressDaniel PachecoUniversity of Kielview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressManuel PrietoiDUniversity of AlcaláiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3050-3445view email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressSebastian Sanchez PrietoiDUniversity of AlcaláiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6729-7932view email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressCharles SchlemmJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratoryview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressHelmut SeifertJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratoryview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressKush TyagiUniversity of Colorado at Boulderview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressMilan MaksimoviciDLESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université de ParisiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6172-5062view email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressAntonio VecchioLESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université de Parisview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressAlexander KollhoffUniversity of Kielview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressPatrick KühlUniversity of Kielview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressZigong XuiDUniversity of KieliDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9246-996Xview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email addressSandra EldrumUniversity of Kielview email addressThe email was not providedcopy email address

Solar Orbiter strives to unveil how the Sun controls and shapes the heliosphere and fills it with energetic particle radiation. To this end, its Energetic Particle Detector (EPD) has now been in operation, providing excellent data, for just over a year. EPD measures suprathermal and energetic particles in the energy range from a few keV up to (near-) relativistic energies (few MeV for electrons and about 500 MeV/nuc for ions). We present an overview of the initial results from the first year of operations and we provide a first assessment of issues and limitations. During this first year of operations of the Solar Orbiter mission, EPD has recorded several particle events at distances between 0.5 and 1 au from the Sun. We present dynamic and time-averaged energy spectra for ions that were measured with a combination of all four EPD sensors, namely: the SupraThermal Electron and Proton sensor (STEP), the Electron Proton Telescope (EPT), the Suprathermal Ion Spectrograph (SIS), and the High-Energy Telescope (HET) as well as the associated energy spectra for electrons measured with STEP and EPT. We illustrate the capabilities of the EPD suite using the 10-11 December 2020 solar particle event. This event showed an enrichment of heavy ions as well as ^3He, for which we also present dynamic spectra measured with SIS. The high anisotropy of electrons at the onset of the event and its temporal evolution is also shown using data from these sensors. We discuss the ongoing in-flight calibration and a few open instrumental issues using data from the 21 July and the 10-11 December 2020 events and give guidelines and examples for the usage of the EPD data. We explain how spacecraft operations may affect EPD data and we present a list of such time periods in the appendix. A list of the most significant particle enhancements as observed by EPT during this first year is also provided.

Context.In mid-June 2020, the Solar Orbiter (SolO) mission reached its first perihelion at 0.51 au and started its cruise phase, with most of the in situ instruments operating continuously.Aims.We present the in situ particle measurements of the first proton event observed after the first perihelion obtained by the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD) suite on board SolO. The potential solar and interplanetary (IP) sources of these particles are investigated.Methods.Ion observations from ∼20 keV to ∼1 MeV are combined with available solar wind data from the Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) instrument and magnetic field data from the magnetometer on board SolO to evaluate the energetic particle transport conditions and infer the possible acceleration mechanisms through which particles gain energy. We compare > 17–20 MeV ion count rate measurements for two solar rotations, along with the solar wind plasma data available from the Solar Wind Analyser (SWA) and RPW instruments, in order to infer the origin of the observed galactic cosmic ray (GCR) depressions.Results.The lack of an observed electron event and of velocity dispersion at various low-energy ion channels and the observed IP structure indicate a local IP source for the low-energy particles. From the analysis of the anisotropy of particle intensities, we conclude that the low-energy ions were most likely accelerated via a local second-orderFermiprocess. The observed GCR decrease on 19 June, together with the 51.8–1034.0 keV nuc−1ion enhancement, was due to a solar wind stream interaction region (SIR). The observation of a similar GCR decrease in the next solar rotation favours this interpretation and constitutes the first observation of a recurrent GCR decrease by SolO. The analysis of the recurrence times of this SIR suggests that it is the same SIR responsible for the4He events previously measured in April and May. Finally, we point out that an IP structure more complex than a common SIR cannot be discarded, mainly due to the lack of solar wind temperature measurements and the lack of a higher cadence of solar wind velocity observations.

After decades of observations of solar energetic particles from space-based observatories, relevant questions on particle injection, transport, and acceleration remain open. To address these scientific topics, accurate measurements of the particle properties in the inner heliosphere are needed. In this paper we describe the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD), an instrument suite that is part of the scientific payload aboard the Solar Orbiter mission. Solar Orbiter will approach the Sun as close as 0.28 au and will provide extra-ecliptic measurements beyond ∼30° heliographic latitude during the later stages of the mission. The EPD will measure electrons, protons, and heavy ions with high temporal resolution over a wide energy range, from suprathermal energies up to several hundreds of megaelectronvolts/nucleons. For this purpose, EPD is composed of four units: the SupraThermal Electrons and Protons (STEP), the Electron Proton Telescope (EPT), the Suprathermal Ion Spectrograph (SIS), and the High-Energy Telescope (HET) plus the Instrument Control Unit that serves as power and data interface with the spacecraft. The low-energy population of electrons and ions will be covered by STEP and EPT, while the high-energy range will be measured by HET. Elemental and isotopic ion composition measurements will be performed by SIS and HET, allowing full particle identification from a few kiloelectronvolts up to several hundreds of megaelectronvolts/nucleons. Angular information will be provided by the separate look directions from different sensor heads, on the ecliptic plane along the Parker spiral magnetic field both forward and backwards, and out of the ecliptic plane observing both northern and southern hemispheres. The unparalleled observations of EPD will provide key insights into long-open and crucial questions about the processes that govern energetic particles in the inner heliosphere.

After decades of observations of solar energetic particles from space-based observatories, relevant questions on particle injection, transport, and acceleration remain open. To address these scientific topics, accurate measurements of the particle properties in the inner heliosphere are needed. In this paper we describe the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD), an instrument suite that is part of the scientific payload aboard the Solar Orbiter mission. Solar Orbiter will approach the Sun as close as 0.28 au and will provide extra-ecliptic measurements beyond ∼30◦ heliographic latitude during the later stages of the mission. The EPD will measure electrons, protons, and heavy ions with high temporal resolution over a wide energy range, from suprathermal energies up to several hundreds of megaelectronvolts/nucleons. For this purpose, EPD is composed of four units: the SupraThermal Electrons and Protons (STEP), the Electron Proton Telescope (EPT), the Suprathermal Ion Spectrograph (SIS), and the HighEnergy Telescope (HET) plus the Instrument Control Unit that serves as power and data interface with the spacecraft. The low-energy population of electrons and ions will be covered by STEP and EPT, while the high-energy range will be measured by HET. Elemental and isotopic ion composition measurements will be performed by SIS and HET, allowing full particle identification from a few kiloelectronvolts up to several hundreds of megaelectronvolts/nucleons. Angular information will be provided by the separate look directions from different sensor heads, on the ecliptic plane along the Parker spiral magnetic field both forward and backwards, and out of the ecliptic plane observing both northern and southern hemispheres. The unparalleled observations of EPD will provide key insights into long-open and crucial questions about the processes that govern energetic particles in the inner heliosphere.

The Jupiter Energetic Particle Detector Instruments (JEDI) on the Juno Jupiter polar-orbiting, atmosphere-skimming, mission to Jupiter will coordinate with the several other space physics instruments on the Juno spacecraft to characterize and understand the space environment of Jupiter’s polar regions, and specifically to understand the generation of Jupiter’s powerful aurora. JEDI comprises 3 nearly-identical instruments and measures at minimum the energy, angle, and ion composition distributions of ions with energies from H:20 keV and O: 50 keV to >1 MeV, and the energy and angle distribution of electrons from <40 to >500 keV. Each JEDI instrument uses microchannel plates (MCP) and thin foils to measure the times of flight (TOF) of incoming ions and the pulse height associated with the interaction of ions with the foils, and it uses solid state detectors (SSD’s) to measure the total energy (E) of both the ions and the electrons. The MCP anodes and the SSD arrays are configured to determine the directions of arrivals of the incoming charged particles. The instruments also use fast triple coincidence and optimum shielding to suppress penetrating background radiation and incoming UV foreground. Here we describe the science objectives of JEDI, the science and measurement requirements, the challenges that the JEDI team had in meeting these requirements, the design and operation of the JEDI instruments, their calibrated performances, the JEDI inflight and ground operations, and the initial measurements of the JEDI instruments in interplanetary space following the Juno launch on 5 August 2011. Juno will begin its prime science operations, comprising 32 orbits with dimensions 1.1×40 RJ, in mid-2016.

Energetic charged particle detectors characterize a portion of the plasma distribution function that plays critical roles in some physical processes, from carrying the currents in planetary ring currents to weathering the surfaces of planetary objects. For several low‐resource missions in the past, the need was recognized for a low‐resource but highly capable, mass‐species‐discriminating energetic particle sensor that could also obtain angular distributions without motors or mechanical articulation. This need led to the development of a compact Energetic Particle Detector (EPD), known as the “Puck” EPD (short for hockey puck), that is capable of determining the flux, angular distribution, and composition of incident ions between an energy range of ~10 keV to several MeV. This sensor makes simultaneous angular measurements of electron fluxes from the tens of keV to about 1 MeV. The same measurements can be extended down to approximately 1 keV/nucleon, with some composition ambiguity. These sensors have a proven flight heritage record that includes missions such as MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging and New Horizons, with multiple sensors on each of Juno, Van Allen Probes, and Magnetospheric Multiscale. In this review paper we discuss the Puck EPD design, its heritage, unexpected results from these past missions and future advancements. We also discuss high‐voltage anomalies that are thought to be associated with the use of curved foils, which is a new foil manufacturing processes utilized on recent Puck EPD designs. Finally, we discuss the important role Puck EPDs can potentially play in upcoming missions.

We present a time-of-flight mass spectrometer design for the measurement of ions in the similar to 30keV to 10 MeV range for protons (up to similar to 40 MeV and similar to 150 MeV for He and heavy ions, respectively) and similar to 30 keV to 1 MeV range for electrons, covering half of the sky with 80 apertures. The instrument, known as the "Mushroom," owing to its shape, solves the field of view problem for magnetospheric and heliospheric missions that employ three-axis stabilized spacecraft, yet still require extended angular coverage; the Mushroom is also compatible with a spinning spacecraft. The most important new feature of the Mushroom is the method through which uncomplicated electrostatic optics and clean position sensing combine to permit many apertures to fit into a compact, low-mass sensor head (or wedge), several of which (ideally eight) compose a full instrument. Most of the sensor head's volume is an empty, equipotential region, resulting in the modest 250 g mass of each 10-aperture wedge. The Mushroom is capable of separating ion species across most of its energy range and angular field of view. For example, separation of the neighboring He-3 and He-4 isotopes is excellent; the full width at half maximum mass resolution has been measured to be 0.24 amu to 0.32 amu, respectively. Converting this to a Gaussian width sigma(m) in mass m, this represents a sigma(m)/m mass resolution better than 0.04. This separation is highly desirable for the flight program for which the first Mushroom was built, the Solar Probe Plus mission. More generally, we estimate the mass resolution to be sigma(m)/m approximate to 0.1, but this is energy, mass, and angularly dependent. We also discuss the solid-state detector stack capability, which extends the energy range of protons and helium, with composition, to similar to 100 MeV.

The Energetic Particle Detector (EPD) Investigation is one of 5 fields-and-particles investigations on the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission. MMS comprises 4 spacecraft flying in close formation in highly elliptical, near-Earth-equatorial orbits targeting understanding of the fundamental physics of the important physical process called magnetic reconnection using Earth's magnetosphere as a plasma laboratory. EPD comprises two sensor types, the Energetic Ion Spectrometer (EIS) with one instrument on each of the 4 spacecraft, and the Fly's Eye Energetic Particle Spectrometer (FEEPS) with 2 instruments on each of the 4 spacecraft. EIS measures energetic ion energy, angle and elemental compositional distributions from a required low energy limit of 20 keV for protons and 45 keV for oxygen ions, up to > 0.5 MeV (with capabilities to measure up to > 1 MeV). FEEPS measures instantaneous all sky images of energetic electrons from 25 keV to > 0.5 MeV, and also measures total ion energy distributions from 45 keV to > 0.5 MeV to be used in conjunction with EIS to measure all sky ion distributions. In this report we describe the EPD investigation and the details of the EIS sensor. Specifically we describe EPD-level science objectives, the science and measurement requirements, and the challenges that the EPD team had in meeting these requirements. Here we also describe the design and operation of the EIS instruments, their calibrated performances, and the EIS in-flight and ground operations. Blake et al. (The Flys Eye Energetic Particle Spectrometer (FEEPS) contribution to the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD) investigation of the Magnetospheric Magnetoscale (MMS) Mission, this issue) describe the design and operation of the FEEPS instruments, their calibrated performances, and the FEEPS in-flight and ground operations. The MMS spacecraft will launch in early 2015, and over its 2-year mission will provide comprehensive measurements of magnetic reconnection at Earth's magnetopause during the 18 months that comprise orbital phase 1, and magnetic reconnection within Earth's magnetotail during the about 6 months that comprise orbital phase 2.

MATERIALS ON MERCURY: FIRST RESULTS FROM THE MESSENGER X-RAY SPECTROMETER S. Z. Weider, L. R. Nittler, R. D. Starr, W. V. Boynton, L. G. Evans, J. O. Goldsten, T. J. McCoy, R. L. McNutt, Jr., C. E. Schlemm II, S. C. Solomon, and A. L. Sprague. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC 20015. E-mail: sweider@ciw.edu. Catholic Univ., Washington, DC 20064. Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721. Computer Sciences Corporation, Lanham-Seabrook, MD 20706. Johns Hopkins Univ. Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD 20723. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013.