A dataset provided by the European Space Agency

Name ASPOC active spacecraft potential control
Mission Cluster
URL https://csa.esac.esa.int/csa-web/#search
DOI https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-k1y3haw
Abstract The ASPOC (Active Spacecraft Potential Control) experiment controls the electric potential of the Cluster spacecraft by means of an ion beam. This modification of the charge balance improves the plasma measurements on board.
Description ASPOC scientific datasets from Cluster 2, Cluster 3 and Cluster 4 (not working on Cluster 1)

Dataset IDDataset content
C2_CP_ASP_IONCIon current (0.5s resolution)
C2_CP_ASP_IONSIon current snapshot (0.033s resolution)
C3_CP_ASP_IONCIon current (0.5s resolution)
C3_CP_ASP_IONSIon current snapshot (0.033s resolution)
C4_CP_ASP_IONCIon current (0.5s resolution)
C4_CP_ASP_IONSIon current snapshot (0.033s resolution)
Publication Torkar, K., et al., Active spacecraft potential control for Cluster implementation and first results, Ann. Geophys., 19, 1289, 2001; https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-19-1289-2001
Riedler, W., et al., Active Spacecraft Potential Control, Space Sci. Rev., 79, 271-302, 1997; https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004921614592
Temporal Coverage 2001-02-01 - 2008-06-30
Mission Description Cluster is the first constellation of four scientific spacecraft to study the Earth-Sun connection in three dimensions. Cluster offers unique opportunities to investigate physical processes in near-Earth space. Those processes are essential to study and understand the effects of the Sun on the vast Earth’s environment that is a highly varying system both in time and space. The four Cluster spacecraft in a polar orbit are unique in their ability to obtain a three-dimensional picture of medium and large-scale plasma structures. The varying Cluster spacecraft formation from 3 km to a few tens of thousands kilometres along the orbit enables multi-point local measurements of different regions at different scales that cannot be done with any other space mission.

Escoubet, C.P., et al., The Cluster mission, Ann. Geophys., 19, 1197, 2001; https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-19-1197-2001
Escoubet, C.P, et al., Cluster - Science and Mission Overview, Space Sci. Rev., 79, 11-32, 1997; https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004923124586
Creator Contact Klaus Torkar, Principal Investigator, Space Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austria, Klaus.Torkar@oeaw.ac.at
Publisher And Registrant European Space Agency
Credit Guidelines When publishing any works related to this experiment, please cite the experiment DOI found herein and the Cluster mission DOI (where appropriate).