The plasma environment of Mars: Phobos mission results. A 1990 status

Abstract

The PHOBOS-2 spacecraft was operational in Martian orbit for almost two months (from 29 January to 27 March, 1989). The orbits and the on-board experiments allowed measurements of magnetic fields, the characteristics of plasma waves, and the spatial and spectral distribution and ion composition of particles in the equatorial regions of the Martian plasma environment. Thies review summarizes the first results of plasma investigations by the PHOBOS mission, published within one year after the completion of the mission.