The BepiColombo Mercury Imaging X-Ray Spectrometer: Science Goals, Instrument Performance and Operations
Bunce, Emma J.; Muinonen, Karri; Kallio, Esa; Tikkanen, Tuomo; Huovelin, Juhani; Dougherty, Michele; Bridges, John; Hilchenbach, Martin; Dennerl, Konrad; Ormö, Jens; Penttilä, Antti; Lehtolainen, Arto; Grande, Manuel; Strüder, Lothar; Esko, Eero; Milan, Steve; Martindale, Adrian; Lindsay, Simon; Rothery, David A.; Pearson, Jim; McDonnell, Ivor; Thomas, Chris; Thornhill, Julian; Feldman, Charly; Korpela, Seppo; Treis, Johannes; Majewski, Petra; Väisänen, Timo; Luttinen, Arto; Kohout, Tomas; Joy, Katherine H.; Alcacera-Gil, Maria Angeles; Alibert, Guilhem; Anand, Mahesh; Bannister, Nigel; Barcelo-Garcia, Corinne; Bicknell, Chris; Blake, Oliver; Bland, Phil; Butcher, Gillian; Cheney, Andy; Christensen, Ulrich; Crawford, Tony; Crawford, Ian A.; Drumm, Paul; Fairbend, Raymond; Genzer, Maria; Hall, Graeme P.; Hodnett, Rosie; Houghton, Paul; Imber, Suzanne; Lara, Maria Luisa; Balado Margeli, Ana; Mas-Hesse, Miguel J.; Maurice, Sylvestre; Millington-Hotze, Peter; Nenonen, Seppo; Nittler, Larry; Okada, Tatsuaki; Perez-Mercader, Juan; Poyner, Richard; Robert, Eddy; Ross, Duncan; Pajas-Sanz, Miriam; Schyns, Emile; Seguy, Julien; Vaudon, Nathalie; Viceira-Martín, Jose; Williams, Hugo; Willingale, Dick; Yeoman, Tim
United Kingdom, Finland, Germany, Spain, France, Australia, United States, Japan
Abstract
The Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer is a highly novel instrument that is designed to map Mercury's elemental composition from orbit at two angular resolutions. By observing the fluorescence X-rays generated when solar-coronal X-rays and charged particles interact with the surface regolith, MIXS will be able to measure the atomic composition of the upper ∼10-20 μm of Mercury's surface on the day-side. Through precipitating particles on the night-side, MIXS will also determine the dynamic interaction of the planet's surface with the surrounding space environment.