A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal
The BepiColombo Environment Radiation Monitor, BERM
Authors: Pinto Marco, Sanchez-Cano Beatriz, Moissl Richard, Benkhoff Johannes, Cardoso Carlota, Goncalves Patrícia, Assis Pedro, Vainio Rami, Oleynik Philipp, Lehtolainen Arto, Grande Manuel, Marques Arlindo
Publisher: SPRINGER
Publication year: 2022
Journal: Space Science Reviews
Journal name in source: SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS
Journal acronym: SPACE SCI REV
Article number: 54
Volume: 218
Issue: 7
Number of pages: 21
ISSN: 0038-6308
eISSN: 1572-9672
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-022-00922-2
Web address : https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11214-022-00922-2
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/176692830
The BepiColombo Environment Radiation Monitor (BERM) on board the European Space Agency's Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO), is designed to measure the radiation environment encountered by BepiColombo. The instrument measures electrons with energies from similar to 150 keV to similar to 10 MeV, protons with energies from similar to 1.5 MeV to similar to 100 MeV, and heavy ions with Linear Energy Transfer from 1 to 50 MeV.mg(-1).cm(2). BERM is operated continuously, being responsible for monitoring the radiation levels during all phases of the mission, including the cruise, the planetary flybys of Earth, Venus and Mercury, and the Hermean environment. In this paper, we describe the scientific objectives, instrument design and calibration, and the in-flight scientific performance of BERM. Moreover, we provide the first scientific results obtained by BERM during the BepiColombo flyby of Earth in April 2020, and after the impact of a solar energetic particle event during the cruise phase in May 2021. We also discuss the future plans of the instrument including synergies with other instruments on the BepiColombo and on other missions.
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