Calibration results of the Magnetic Anomaly Plasma Spectrometer on Lunar Vertex

We present calibration results of the Magnetic Anomaly Particle Spectrometer (MAPS), a combined ion and electron spectrometer on the upcoming Lunar Vertex investigation. The Lunar Vertex investigation is part of the Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) program, a commercial lander developed by Intuitive Machines under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.  Lunar Vertex will target the Reiner Gamma swirl and magnetic anomaly and is expected to reach the moon in 2025-2026.

 As part of the PRISM Lunar Vertex investigation, the MAPS plasma spectrometer will measure the energy, flux, and direction of thermal to supra-thermal ions and electrons from the impinging solar wind that reach the lunar surface. MAPS is a combined ion and electron spectrometer with heritage from Rosetta/IES and is a sibling experiment to the upcoming solar wind monitor SWiPS. It measures ions and electrons from 10 eV/q to 17.5 keV/q with a 292.5°x90° FOV.

MAPS was calibrated at Southwest Research Institute’s ion and electron calibration facilities, with proton and electron beams down to 156 eV. We present preliminary analysis results of MAPS angular and energy response.