Mars & Multi-Planetary Electrical Environment Spectrum Analyzer (MENSA)

In FY14, we will develop and deliver a Multi-Planetary Electrical Environment Plasma Spectrum Analyzer. This instrument is a DC and AC electric field sensor suite with many applications.  For example, MENSA could be used to characterize electric charge present in dust storms and to discover the presence of lightning (and even audio thunder) in the Martian environment. In the long term, this instrument package can be used as a basis for low-power system for measuring planetary magnetospheres, plasma waves, and electrical fields for other missions.

Our objective is to develop MENSA as a highly integrated planetary radio and digital spectrum analyzer cubesat payload that can be deployed as a satellite instrument or reside on a rover. We will also develop the supporting signal processing algorithms to perform spectral analysis and event detection of the various environments that are sensed by the system.

The end goal is to deliver MENSA as a flexible, minimum Size Weight and Power (SWaP) system that for near-term Planetary Science. To save costs, the system will be developed using all commercial parts that have radiation tolerant flight part equivalents.