PAMELA detector

<p>PAMELA (Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics) was a <a href="/facts/Cosmic_ray/uxCVdTKd">cosmic ray</a> research module attached to an Earth orbiting satellite. <i>PAMELA</i> was launched on 15 June 2006 and was the first <a href="/facts/Satellite/PTX8c68t">satellite</a>-based experiment dedicated to the detection of <a href="/facts/Cosmic_rays/uxCVdTKd">cosmic rays</a>, with a particular focus on their <a href="/facts/Antimatter/NvpGDLof">antimatter</a> component, in the form of <a href="/facts/Positron/HgV4zBzA">positrons</a> and <a href="/facts/Antiproton/dLqJkhGQ">antiprotons</a>. Other objectives included long-term monitoring of the solar modulation of cosmic rays, measurements of energetic particles from the <a href="/facts/Sun/CadPCVHh">Sun</a>, high-energy particles in Earth's <a href="/facts/Magnetosphere/BXzgPoPy">magnetosphere</a> and <a href="/facts/Gas_giant/pmF6KztG">Jovian</a> electrons. It was also hoped that it may detect evidence of <a href="/facts/Dark_matter/y5HgX55N">dark matter</a> annihilation. PAMELA operations were terminated in 2016, as were the operations of the host-satellite <a href="/facts/Resurs-DK1/McSQaQF3">Resurs-DK1</a>. The experiment was a recognized <a href="/facts/CERN/y1gwRchm">CERN</a> experiment (RE2B).
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PAMELA detector open-in-new

PAMELA detector