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The Mars Ion and Neutral Particle Analyzer (MINPA), one of the seven scientific payloads onboard the Tianwen-1 orbiter, was specifically designed to investigate the interaction between the solar wind and Mars by analyzing ions and energetic neutral atoms (ENAs). Commencing its scientific data collection in November 2021, MINPA successfully completed its first far-magnetotail survey during the summer of 2022. Our presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of MINPA's in-flight operations and its initial scientific findings. Regarding ENA observations, MINPA achieved successful data collection during solar wind, magnetosheath, and nightside observations. An algorithm has been developed to convert ENA count rates into intensity. A statistical analysis of solar wind ENAs revealed a neutralization rate of the solar wind at the flanks of the Mars magnetosphere. We also performed a collaborative analysis using MINPA data and numerical modeling to gain a deeper understanding of the ENA spectrum and its properties. In the ion component, MINPA observed hydrogen and heavy ions across various regions at Mars. With a far apoapsis, MINPA measured heavy ion escape in the far magnetotail, showcasing significant enhancements during periods of coronal mass ejection (CME) impacts. To enhance our understanding of the Martian space environment, an interdisciplinary team, comprising scientists from the Tianwen-1, Emirates Mars Mission (EMM), Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN), and Mars Express missions, has been assembled within the ISSI framework.
Li et al. (Fri,) studied this question.