GO A PWS RESAMP SUMMARY: Galileo Plasma Wave Spectra from Gaspra Flyby

NASA's Galileo spacecraft recorded electric and magnetic wave spectra during its flyby of the asteroid Gaspra. The dataset contains 1-minute averages of spectral density, binned into 49 channels for electric fields (6 Hz to 5.6 MHz) and 34 channels for magnetic fields (6 Hz to 75 kHz). This browse data set was produced from the High Frequency Receiver, Sweep Frequency Receiver, and Spectrum Analyzer components of the Plasma Wave Subsystem.

Use Cases

• Analyzing plasma wave intensity and frequency distribution based on the 49-channel electric field spectral density.
• Studying magnetic field fluctuations in space based on the 34-channel magnetic field spectral density.
• Comparing electric and magnetic wave spectra during a specific spacecraft operation period.
• Using as a browse data set for initial survey of Galileo PWS instrument data due to its reduced spectral resolution.

Strengths

• Data originates from the authoritative NASA Galileo mission.
• Spectral information is binned into 49 electric and 34 magnetic logarithmically-spaced channels.
• Covers a broad frequency range from about 6 Hz to 5.6 MHz for electric measurements.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The spectral resolution is reduced for browse purposes and does not correspond to the instrument's 158 specific channels.
• Row count and file formats are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Averaged and binned data from the Galileo spacecraft's Plasma Wave Subsystem (High Frequency Receiver, Sweep Frequency Receiver, and Spectrum Analyzer).

Time Range

Period of Galileo plasma wave receiver operation during the Gaspra flyby.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 04:54:22.560242; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Space, specifically the trajectory of the Galileo spacecraft during the Gaspra asteroid encounter.