The Mercury Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer (MGNS) Onboard the Mercury Planetary Orbiter of the BepiColombo Mission: Design Updates and First Measurements in Space

I. G. Mitrofanov; A. S. Kozyrev; D. I. Lisov; M. L. Litvak; A. A. Malakhov; M. I. Mokrousov; J. Benkhoff; A. Owens; R. Schulz; F. Quarati

doi:10.1007/s11214-021-00842-7

The Mercury Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer (MGNS) Onboard the Mercury Planetary Orbiter of the BepiColombo Mission: Design Updates and First Measurements in Space

I. G. Mitrofanov, A. S. Kozyrev^*, D. I. Lisov, M. L. Litvak, A. A. Malakhov, M. I. Mokrousov, J. Benkhoff, A. Owens, R. Schulz, F. Quarati

^*Corresponding author for this work

RST/Luminescence Materials

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

An updated set of goals and objectives for the Mercury Gamma and Neutron Spectrometer (MGNS) are presented based on the most recent findings of the MESSENGER mission. The updated design of MGNS with the new CeBr₃ crystal for detection of gamma-ray along with its benefits for the detection of ⁴⁰K and K/Th ratio are discussed. MGNS will then be capable of measuring the elemental composition of shallow subsurface in order to empirically evaluate the fittest model on the origin of Mercury, as well as the presence of possible water ice deposits on the permanently shadowed polar craters on the planet. We present the results of the first measurements in space performed during the instrument commissioning phase and during the first Earth flyby which occurred in April 2020.

Original language	English
Article number	67
Number of pages	12
Journal	Space Science Reviews
Volume	217
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-021-00842-7
Publication status	Published - 2021

Keywords

BepiColombo
Gamma-ray spectroscopy
Mercury
MGNS
Nuclear planetology

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10.1007/s11214-021-00842-7

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Mitrofanov, I. G., Kozyrev, A. S., Lisov, D. I., Litvak, M. L., Malakhov, A. A., Mokrousov, M. I., Benkhoff, J., Owens, A., Schulz, R., & Quarati, F. (2021). The Mercury Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer (MGNS) Onboard the Mercury Planetary Orbiter of the BepiColombo Mission: Design Updates and First Measurements in Space. Space Science Reviews, 217(5), Article 67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-021-00842-7

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title = "The Mercury Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer (MGNS) Onboard the Mercury Planetary Orbiter of the BepiColombo Mission: Design Updates and First Measurements in Space",

abstract = "An updated set of goals and objectives for the Mercury Gamma and Neutron Spectrometer (MGNS) are presented based on the most recent findings of the MESSENGER mission. The updated design of MGNS with the new CeBr3 crystal for detection of gamma-ray along with its benefits for the detection of 40K and K/Th ratio are discussed. MGNS will then be capable of measuring the elemental composition of shallow subsurface in order to empirically evaluate the fittest model on the origin of Mercury, as well as the presence of possible water ice deposits on the permanently shadowed polar craters on the planet. We present the results of the first measurements in space performed during the instrument commissioning phase and during the first Earth flyby which occurred in April 2020.",

keywords = "BepiColombo, Gamma-ray spectroscopy, Mercury, MGNS, Nuclear planetology",

author = "Mitrofanov, {I. G.} and Kozyrev, {A. S.} and Lisov, {D. I.} and Litvak, {M. L.} and Malakhov, {A. A.} and Mokrousov, {M. I.} and J. Benkhoff and A. Owens and R. Schulz and F. Quarati",

year = "2021",

doi = "10.1007/s11214-021-00842-7",

language = "English",

volume = "217",

journal = "Space Science Reviews",

issn = "0038-6308",

publisher = "Springer",

number = "5",

}

Mitrofanov, IG, Kozyrev, AS, Lisov, DI, Litvak, ML, Malakhov, AA, Mokrousov, MI, Benkhoff, J, Owens, A, Schulz, R & Quarati, F 2021, 'The Mercury Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer (MGNS) Onboard the Mercury Planetary Orbiter of the BepiColombo Mission: Design Updates and First Measurements in Space', Space Science Reviews, vol. 217, no. 5, 67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-021-00842-7

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Mercury Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer (MGNS) Onboard the Mercury Planetary Orbiter of the BepiColombo Mission

T2 - Design Updates and First Measurements in Space

AU - Mitrofanov, I. G.

AU - Kozyrev, A. S.

AU - Lisov, D. I.

AU - Litvak, M. L.

AU - Malakhov, A. A.

AU - Mokrousov, M. I.

AU - Benkhoff, J.

AU - Owens, A.

AU - Schulz, R.

AU - Quarati, F.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - An updated set of goals and objectives for the Mercury Gamma and Neutron Spectrometer (MGNS) are presented based on the most recent findings of the MESSENGER mission. The updated design of MGNS with the new CeBr3 crystal for detection of gamma-ray along with its benefits for the detection of 40K and K/Th ratio are discussed. MGNS will then be capable of measuring the elemental composition of shallow subsurface in order to empirically evaluate the fittest model on the origin of Mercury, as well as the presence of possible water ice deposits on the permanently shadowed polar craters on the planet. We present the results of the first measurements in space performed during the instrument commissioning phase and during the first Earth flyby which occurred in April 2020.

AB - An updated set of goals and objectives for the Mercury Gamma and Neutron Spectrometer (MGNS) are presented based on the most recent findings of the MESSENGER mission. The updated design of MGNS with the new CeBr3 crystal for detection of gamma-ray along with its benefits for the detection of 40K and K/Th ratio are discussed. MGNS will then be capable of measuring the elemental composition of shallow subsurface in order to empirically evaluate the fittest model on the origin of Mercury, as well as the presence of possible water ice deposits on the permanently shadowed polar craters on the planet. We present the results of the first measurements in space performed during the instrument commissioning phase and during the first Earth flyby which occurred in April 2020.

KW - BepiColombo

KW - Gamma-ray spectroscopy

KW - Mercury

KW - MGNS

KW - Nuclear planetology

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DO - 10.1007/s11214-021-00842-7

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:85111710105

SN - 0038-6308

VL - 217

JO - Space Science Reviews

JF - Space Science Reviews

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M1 - 67

ER -

The Mercury Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer (MGNS) Onboard the Mercury Planetary Orbiter of the BepiColombo Mission: Design Updates and First Measurements in Space

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