2.0.0 spase://SMWG/Instrument/AE-C/NATE Neutral Atmosphere Temperature (NATE) NATE 2019-05-05T12:34:56Z This experiment measured the kinetic temperature of the neutral atmosphere by determining the instantaneous density of molecular nitrogen in a spherical chamber coupled to the atmosphere through a knife-edged orifice. Analysis of the measured molecular nitrogen density variation over a spin cycle with a knowledge of the satellite's motion and orientation led to a determination of the ambient temperature, independent of scale height. A measurement of the ambient nitrogen density was also obtained. An alternate measurement of neutral temperature was also undertaken, using a baffle inserted in front of the orifice to intercept a portion of the gas particle stream entering the chamber. When the satellite was in the despun mode, the baffle was made to oscillate in the stepwise fashion to interrupt the particle stream seen by the orificed chamber. These chamber density variations were interpreted to yield the neutral gas kinetic temperature. A dual-filament ion source sampled the thermalized molecular nitrogen in the chamber and produced an ion beam density proportional to the nitrogen chamber density. From the source, this ionized nitrogen beam was directed from a quadrupole analyzer, tuned to pass those particles whose mass-to-charge ratio (M/Q) is 28, on to an electron multiplier. The output pulses were amplified and counted in a 16-bit accumulator. The experiment also provided measurements of neutral atmospheric composition, when commanded into the appropriate mode and, for the first time measured the local wind (vertical motions). The wind values were determined by measurement of the "stream" position relative to the satellite velocity. When the spacecraft was in the despun mode, the nitrogen density was measured except when the particle stream was interrupted by the baffle. The sensor was vacuum-sealed prior to launch and opened to the atmosphere after the spacecraft was in orbit. More experiment details can be found in N. W. Spencer et al., Radio Sci., v. 8, n. 4, p. 287, 1973. NSSDC has all the useful data that exist from this investigation. spase://SMWG/Person/Nelson.W.Spencer PrincipalInvestigator NSSDC's Master Catalog https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1973-101A-09 Information about the Neutral Atmosphere Temperature (NATE) experiment on the AE-C mission. Radio Science Journal Article https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/RS008i004p00287 Detailed information about the Neutral Atmosphere Temperature experiment on the AE-C mission. Unspecified Neutral Atmosphere Temperature (NATE) on AE-C spase://SMWG/Observatory/AE-C