In-orbit calibration of the lunar magnetometer onboard SELENE (KAGUYA)

• Published in: Earth, planets, and space planets, and space, 2009-01, Vol.61 (11), p.1269-1274
• Main Authors: Takahashi, Futoshi, Shimizu, Hisayoshi, Matsushima, Masaki, Shibuya, Hidetoshi, Matsuoka, Ayako, Nakazawa, Satoru, Iijima, Yuichi, Otake, Hisashi, Tsunakawa, Hideo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cosmochemistry. Extraterrestrial geology; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Geology; Geophysics/Geodesy
• ISSN: 1343-8832; 1880-5981
• DOI: 10.1186/BF03352979

The high-sensitivity fluxgate Lunar MAGnetometer (LMAG) is mounted on SELENE (KAGUYA) to investigate the near-surface electromagnetic environment and the evolution of the Moon through magnetic field observation. To avoid possible electromagnetic interferences, a triaxial fluxgate sensor (MGF-S) is installed at the far end of a 12-m-long mast. It is critical for the accurate observation to monitor MGF-S alignment in orbit, and thus we have calibrated the sensor alignment by measuring the known magnetic fields generated by the sensor alignment monitor coil (SAM-C) wound onto the mast canister. In-orbit calibration of the MGF-S alignment was performed twice each revolution during the initial check-out phase of the satellite. It is concluded that there is no systematic difference in the sensor alignment between the day-side and night-side. Applying a new technique based on the Davis-Smith method to the observed magnetic field data when KAGUYA was exposed to the solar wind, a zero offset of each axis was quickly and stably determined every month. As a result, LMAG has been calibrated with an accuracy that is sufficient for detection of the lunar magnetic anomaly at an altitude of 100 km and for high-resolution electron reflectometry.