The IMAGE observatory

The Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) mission wi ll be the first of the new Medium-class Explorer (MIDEX) missions to fly. I MAGE will utilize a combination of ultraviolet and neutral atom imaging ins truments plus an RF sounder to map and image the temporal and spatial featu res of the magnetosphere. The eight science sensors are mounted to a single deckplate. The deckplate is enveloped in an eight-sided spacecraft bus, 22 5 cm across the flats, developed by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Corp oration. Constructed of laminated aluminum honeycomb panels, covered extens ively by Gallium Arsenide solar cells, the spacecraft structure is designed to withstand the launch loads of a Delta 7326-9.5 ELV. Attitude control is via a single magnetic torque rod and passive nutation damper with aspect i nformation provided by a star camera, sun sensor, and three-axis magnetomet er. A single S-band transponder provides telemetry and command functionalit y. Interfaces between the self-contained payload and the spacecraft are lim ited to MIL-STD-1553 and power. This paper lists the requirements that drov e the design of the IMAGE Observatory and the implementation that met the r equirements.