Voyager 1 Plasma Spectrometer Data: High-Resolution Density, Speed, and Velocity

NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft collected plasma data using two Faraday-cup detectors. The dataset contains high-resolution measurements of plasma density, thermal speed, and velocity components in the RTN coordinate system, with sampling times ranging from 12 to 192 seconds. Parameters were derived by fitting a convected isotropic Maxwellian distribution to the detector measurements.

Use Cases

• Modeling solar wind propagation based on high-resolution plasma velocity and density measurements.
• Analyzing plasma parameter variability over time based on sampling times ranging from 12 to 192 seconds.
• Studying the transition from subsonic to supersonic plasma flow based on the three sequential energy scan modes described.
• Validating space physics simulations using the RTN coordinate system velocity components (R, T, N).

Strengths

• Data collection employed three sequential energy scans with (delta E)/E equal to 20, 7.2, and 1.8%, covering a wide flow range.
• One sigma errors are typically less than 0.5% in speed and VR, and less than 5% for density and thermal speed.
• Sampling was generally more frequent early in the mission, providing higher temporal resolution for initial phases.

Limitations

• Row count and file format are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Errors for VT and VN velocity components vary greatly, as noted in the description.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Measurements from two Faraday-cup detectors on the Voyager 1 spacecraft, with parameters obtained by fitting a convected isotropic Maxwellian distribution.

Time Range

Early mission phase had more frequent sampling; specific temporal coverage is not stated.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 05:17:02.774052; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Data collected in space by the Voyager 1 spacecraft; specific spatial coverage is not stated.