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The JAXA’s Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission is planned to reveal the origin of Phobos and Deimos. It will remotely observe both moons and return a sample from Phobos. The nominal instruments include the TElescopic Nadir imager for GeOmOrphology (TENGOO) and Optical RadiOmeter composed of CHromatic Imagers (OROCHI). The scientific objective of TENGOO is to obtain the geomorphological features of Phobos and Deimos. The spatial resolution of TENGOO is 0.3 m at an altitude of 25 km in the quasi-satellite orbit. The scientific objective of OROCHI is to obtain material distribution using spectral mapping. OROCHI possesses seven wide-angle bandpass imagers without a filter wheel and one monochromatic imager dedicated to the observation during the landing phase. Using these two instruments, we plan to select landing sites and obtain information that supports the analysis of return samples.

The Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace (ERG) project explores the acceleration, transport, and loss of relativistic electrons in the radiation belts and the dynamics for geospace storms. This project consists of three research teams for satellite observation, ground-based network observation, and integrated data analysis/simulation. This synergetic approach is essential for obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the relativistic electron generation/loss processes of the radiation belts as well as geospace storms through cross-energy/cross-regional couplings, in which different plasma/particle populations and regions are strongly coupled with each other. This paper gives an overview of the ERG project and presents the initial results from the ERG (Arase) satellite.

The Exploration of energization and Radiation in Geospace (ERG) Science Center serves as a hub of the ERG project, providing data files in a common format and developing the space physics environment data analysis software and plug-ins for data analysis. The Science Center also develops observation plans for the ERG (Arase) satellite according to the science strategy of the project. Conjugate observations with other satellites and ground-based observations are also planned. These tasks contribute to the ERG project by achieving quick analysis and well-organized conjugate ERG satellite and ground-based observations.

The medium-energy particle experiments—electron analyzer onboard the exploration of energization and radiation in geospace spacecraft measures the energy and direction of each incoming electron in the energy range of 7–87 keV. The sensor covers a 2π-radian disklike field of view with 16 detectors, and the full solid angle coverage is achieved through the spacecraft’s spin motion. The electron energy is independently measured by both an electrostatic analyzer and avalanche photodiodes, enabling significant background reduction. We describe the technical approach, data output, and examples of initial observations.

BepiColombo Mio, also known as the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO), is intended to conduct the first detailed study of the magnetic field and environment of the innermost planet, Mercury, alongside the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO). This orbiter has five payload groups; the MaGnetic Field Investigation (MGF), the Mercury Plasma Particle Experiment (MPPE), the Plasma Wave Investigation (PWI), the Mercury Sodium Atmosphere Spectral Imager (MSASI), and the Mercury Dust Monitor (MDM). These payloads operate through the Mission Data Processor (MDP) that acts as an integrated system for Hermean environmental studies by the in situ observation of charged and energetic neutral particles, magnetic and electric fields, plasma waves, dust, and the remote sensing of radio waves and exospheric emissions. The MDP produces three kinds of coordinated data sets: Survey (L) mode for continuous monitoring, Nominal (M) mode for standard analyses of several hours in length (or more), and Burst (H) mode for analysis based on 4–20-min-interval datasets with the highest cadence. To utilize the limited telemetry bandwidth, nominal- and burst-mode data sets are partially downlinked after selections of data based on L- or L/M-mode data, respectively. Burst-mode data can be taken at preset timings, or by onboard automatic triggering. The MDP functions are implemented and tested on the ground as well as cruising spacecraft; they are responsible for conducting full scientific operations aboard spacecraft.

This paper reports the design, calibration, and operation of high-energy electron experiments (HEP) aboard the exploration of energization and radiation in geospace (ERG) satellite. HEP detects 70 keV–2 MeV electrons and generates a three-dimensional velocity distribution for these electrons in every period of the satellite’s rotation. Electrons are detected by two instruments, namely HEP-L and HEP-H, which differ in their geometric factor (G-factor) and range of energies they detect. HEP-L detects 70 keV–1 MeV electrons and its G-factor is 9.3 × 10−4 cm2 sr at maximum, while HEP-H observes 0.7–2 MeV electrons and its G-factor is 9.3 × 10−3 cm2 sr at maximum. The instruments utilize silicon strip detectors and application-specific integrated circuits to readout the incident charge signal from each strip. Before the launch, we calibrated the detectors by measuring the energy spectra of all strips using γ-ray sources. To evaluate the overall performance of the HEP instruments, we measured the energy spectra and angular responses with electron beams. After HEP was first put into operation, on February 2, 2017, it was demonstrated that the instruments performed normally. HEP began its exploratory observations with regard to energization and radiation in geospace in late March 2017. The initial results of the in-orbit observations are introduced briefly in this paper.

The medium-energy particle experiments–ion mass analyzer (MEP-i) was developed for the exploration of energization and radiation in geospace (ERG) mission (Arase), in order to measure the three-dimensional distribution functions of the inner-magnetospheric ions in the medium energy range between 10 and 180 keV/q. The energy, mass, and charge state of each ion are determined by a combination of an electrostatic energy/charge analyzer, a time-of-flight mass/charge analyzer, and energy-sensitive solid-state detectors. This paper describes the instrumentation of the MEP-i, data products, and observation results during a magnetic storm.

The extremely high-energy electron experiment (XEP) onboard the Arase (ERG) satellite is designed to measure high-energy electrons in the Earth’s radiation belts. The XEP was developed by taking advantage of our technical heritage of high-energy particle detectors that are onboard Earth observation satellites of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as the radiation monitor. The main target of the XEP is to precisely measure variations of relativistic electrons in the outer radiation belt even during magnetic storms. The measurement is scientifically required to address physical mechanisms of electron acceleration and loss. The XEP consists of five solid-state silicon detectors (SSDs) and a single-crystal inorganic scintillator of cerium-doped gadolinium orthosilicate (GSO) to measure electrons in the energy range of 0.4–20 MeV and has a 20° single field of view (FOV). It is also equipped with a plastic scintillator that surrounds the GSO scintillator to prevent particles from entering the detectors from outside the FOV. The XEP has started its observation of relativistic electrons and has successfully observed dynamic variations of relativistic electron fluxes in the outer radiation belt during magnetic storms. This paper describes the instrumentation of the XEP and presents an example of initial observation results.

Variations of relativistic electron fluxes (E ≥ 1 MeV) and wave activity in the Earth magnetosphere are studied to determine the contribution of different acceleration mechanisms of the outer radiation belt electrons: ULF mechanism, VLF mechanism, and adiabatic acceleration. The electron fluxes were measured by Arase satellite and geostationary GOES satellites. The ULF power index is used to characterize the magnetospheric wave activity in the Pc5 range. To characterize the VLF wave activity in the magnetosphere, we use data from PWE instrument of Arase satellite. We consider some of the most powerful magnetic storms during the Arase era: May 27–29, 2017; September 7–10, 2017; and August 25–28, 2018. Also, non-storm intervals with a high solar wind speed before and after these storms for comparison are analyzed. Magnitudes of relativistic electron fluxes during these magnetic storms are found to be greater than that during non-storm intervals with high solar wind streams. During magnetic storms, the flux intensity maximum shifts to lower L-shells compared to intervals without magnetic storms. For the considered events, the substorm activity, as characterized by AE index, is found to be a necessary condition for the increase of relativistic electron fluxes, whereas a high solar wind speed alone is not sufficient for the relativistic electron growth. The enhancement of relativistic electron fluxes by 1.5–2 orders of magnitude is observed 1–3 days after the growth of the ULF index and VLF emission power. The growth of VLF and ULF wave powers coincides with the growth of substorm activity and occurs approximately at the same time. Both mechanisms operate at the first phase of electron acceleration. At the second phase of electron acceleration, the mechanism associated with the injection of electrons into the region of the magnetic field weakened by the ring current and their subsequent betatron acceleration during the magnetic field restoration can work effectively.

Electrons within Earth's radiation belts exhibit large variability in space and time during geomagnetic storms, which could potentially damage satellites and harm astronauts in space. Physics‐based models describe the evolution of energetic electrons in the radiation belts, but they may suffer from uncertainties and errors, particularly in the initial and boundary conditions. Data assimilation can overcome these limitations by combining models with satellite observations, incorporating all available information to create a more reliable reconstruction. This study validates the data‐assimilative three‐dimensional Versatile Electron Radiation Belt code (VERB‐3D) model using data from three independent satellite missions: Arase and GOES for assimilation, and Van Allen Probes for validation. The data sets were cleaned and normalized to ensure their compatibility. The validation shows that the model effectively reproduces the radiation belt dynamics, where the reanalysis remains within a factor of 2 for 88.3% of the time, 98.4% within a factor of 5, and 99.4% within one order of magnitude for 1 MeV electrons. The results highlight the potential of data assimilation for space weather forecasting and as an input for specification models.