Suprathermal Ion Detector Experiment

The principal scientific objectives of the Suprathermal Ion Detector Experiment were to explore the lunar ionic environment and to measure the electric potential of the lunar surface. The experiment was highly successful in that both of these objectives were accomplished. Furthermore, an additional objective, the investigation of the magnetospheric tail at lunar distances, was also successful and a new region of magnetospheric plasma was discovered above and below the plasma sheet; the lobe plasma.NASA Contract NAS9-5911Introduction -- The Lunar Ionosphere -- The Electric Potential of the Lunar Surface -- The Lunar Nightside -- Bow Shock Protons -- Magnetosheath -- Magnetotail -- Solar Wind, Neutral Gas Cloud Interactions -- Rocket Exhaust Products -- Synoptic and Secular Studies and Transient Events -- Penetrating Solar Particles -- Future Research -- Summary -- Data Users Handbook -- One-Year Report -- Full copies of Papers cited in the text