Three hours after AMS-02 was installed on the International Space Station (ISS) on May 19th, it seamlessly adapted to its new environment in space and began detecting particles with remarkable efficiency. At a rate of approximately 50 million cosmic rays per day, AMS-02 has already captured over one billion events. While the spectrometer happily collects particles in the vastness of space, the AMS-02 team successfully transferred the Payload Operation Control Center (POCC) from the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston to a state-of-the-art facility at CERN in Geneva.
Over the past month, the AMS-02 team has been exceptionally busy ensuring the integrity and proper collection of the incoming data. The experiment generates a continuous stream of data at about 10 Megabits per second (Mbps), necessitating robust online storage, meticulous monitoring, and efficient processing. A dedicated team operates in shifts around the clock, monitoring the experiment’s correct functioning in space. Concurrently, another team ensures that the data is correctly processed by a cluster of powerful computers at CERN before being distributed to regional centers for specific detector-related analysis and calibrations.
The experiment is controlled from the POCC 24/7, with each subsystem having its dedicated monitor desk. A special position is devoted to overseeing the data flow, ensuring its consistency and accuracy. Another critical position is the commanding function, the only station authorized to issue commands that are uploaded by the ISS control center in Marshall. So far, nearly 3 terabytes of data have been transmitted from AMS-02 to the ground.
AMS-02 detectors operate at typical temperatures just a few degrees above 0°C, though there are slow seasonal variations caused by the ISS’s continuous attitude changes towards the sun. These temperature variations are carefully monitored to ensure the optimal functioning of the spectrometer.
On June 24th, the POCC at CERN began its operations. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for AMS-02, as it will be controlled from this advanced facility throughout its extended mission in space. The new POCC at CERN is equipped with cutting-edge technology and infrastructure, designed to support the AMS-02’s long-term scientific goals.
The transition to the new POCC at CERN underscores the collaborative and international nature of the AMS-02 project. Scientists and engineers from around the world work together, harnessing their collective expertise to manage the complex operations of the spectrometer. The data collected by AMS-02 is expected to provide significant insights into cosmic rays, dark matter, and the fundamental particles that make up our universe.
The continuous flow of data from AMS-02 is a testament to the meticulous planning and execution by the AMS-02 team. Each piece of data is valuable, contributing to our understanding of the universe and the fundamental forces at play. The move to the CERN POCC ensures that the AMS-02 will continue to operate at peak efficiency, with the support of one of the world’s leading scientific institutions.
As AMS-02 continues its mission, the team at CERN remains dedicated to extracting maximum scientific value from the collected data. The seamless operation of the POCC and the continuous monitoring of the experiment highlight the commitment and expertise of the AMS-02 team. This new phase of the mission promises exciting discoveries and advancements in our understanding of the cosmos, made possible by the successful collaboration between space agencies, research institutions, and scientists worldwide.