After decades of observations of solar energetic particles (SEP) from space-based observatories, relevant questions on particle injection, transport, and acceleration remain open. To address these scientific topics, accurate measurements of the particle properties in the inner heliosphere are needed. In this paper we describe the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD), an instrument suite that is part of the scientific payload aboard the Solar Orbiter mission. Solar Orbiter will approach the Sun as close as 0.28 au and will provide extra-ecliptic measurements beyond ∼ 30 • heliographic latitude during the later stages of the mission. The EPD will measure electrons, protons, and heavy ions with high temporal resolution over a wide energy range, from suprathermal energies up to several hundreds of megaelectronvolts/nucleons. For this purpose, EPD is composed of four units: the SupraThermal Electrons and Protons (STEP), the Electron Proton Telescope (EPT), the Suprathermal Ion Spectrograph (SIS), and the High-Energy Telescope (HET) plus the Instrument Control Unit (ICU) that serves as power and data interface with the spacecraft. The low-energy population of electrons and ions will be covered by STEP and EPT, while the high-energy range will be measured by HET. Elemental and isotopic ion composition measurements will be performed by SIS and HET, allowing full particle identification from a few kiloelectronvolts up to several hundreds of megaelectronvolts/nucleons. Angular information will be provided by the separate look directions from different sensor heads, on the ecliptic plane along the Parker spiral magnetic field both forward and backwards, and out of the ecliptic plane observing both northern and southern hemispheres. The unparalleled observations of EPD will provide key insights into long-open and crucial questions about the processes that govern energetic particles in the inner heliosphere.

Context. Solar Orbiter, launched in February 2020, started its cruise phase in June 2020, in coincidence with its first perihelion at 0.51 au from the Sun. The in situ instruments onboard, including the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD), operate continuously during the cruise phase enabling the observation of solar energetic particles. Aims. In situ measurements of the first near-relativistic solar electron events observed in July 2020 by EPD are analyzed and the solar origins and the conditions for the interplanetary transport of these particles investigated. Methods. Electron observations from keV energies to the near-relativistic range were combined with the detection of type III radio bursts and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) observations from multiple spacecraft in order to identify the solar origin of the electron events. Electron anisotropies and timing as well as the plasma and magnetic field environment were evaluated to characterize the interplanetary transport conditions. Results. All electron events were clearly associated with type III radio bursts. EUV jets were also found in association with all of them except one. A diversity of time profiles and pitch-angle distributions was observed. Different source locations and different magnetic connectivity and transport conditions were likely involved. The July 11 event was also detected by Wind, separated 107 degrees in longitude from Solar Orbiter. For the July 22 event, the Suprathermal Electron and Proton (STEP) sensor of EPD allowed for us to not only resolve multiple electron injections at low energies, but it also provided an exceptionally high pitch-angle resolution of a very anisotropic beam. This, together with radio observations of local Langmuir waves suggest a very good magnetic connection during the July 22 event. This scenario is challenged by a high-frequency occultation of the type III radio burst and a nominally non-direct connection to the source; therefore, magnetic connectivity requires further investigation.

Resumen: Se analiza el planteamiento teórico, desarrollo metodológico y aproximación a unos primeros resultados de un proyecto de investigación aplicada, fi nanciado por el Ministerio de Educación, para la propuesta de un modelo de indicadores competenciales de alfabetización en información en bibliotecas escolares. A partir de la consideración de la alfabetización en información como competencia para conocer y saber en red y la biblioteca escolar como Centro de Recursos para la Enseñanza y el Aprendizaje (CREA), se plantean, siguiendo propuestas ya enunciadas, como objetivos el diseño de indicadores cualitativos para medir el progreso y la calidad de programas de alfabetización en información para bibliotecas escolares. Se presenta la formulación del modelo de indicadores, categorizado en destrezas, habilidades y competencias, plasmado luego en un cuestionario-tipo según niveles educativos y sobre unos recursos digitales seleccionados, que fue pre-testado para su aplicación en Asturias, Navarra y Madrid. Se describe su aplicación en las tres comunidades, la naturaleza de las cuestiones, el procesamiento de datos y una aproximación a un primer análisis interpretativo por niveles educativos. Se aborda, fi nalmente, la argumentación de unas primeras conclusiones a modo de desarrollos futuros del proyecto y recomendaciones para el desarrollo de la Sociedad del conocimiento, a partir de un efi caz plan de programas de alfabetización en información desde bibliotecas escolares transformadas en CREA.Palabras clave: alfabetización en información, biblioteca escolar, CREA, evaluación de programas de alfabetización en información. The measurement of impact and evaluation of information literacy programs in school libraries

The development process of on-board software applications can benefit from model-driven engineering techniques. Model validation and model transformations can be applied to drive the activities of specification, requirements definition, and system-level validation and verification according to the space software engineering standards ECSS-E-ST-40 and ECSS-Q-ST-80. This paper presents a model-driven approach to completing these activities by avoiding inconsistencies between the documents that support them and providing the ability to automatically generate the system-level validation tests that are run on the Ground Support Equipment and the matrices required to complete the software verification. A demonstrator of the approach has been built using as a proof of concept a subset of the functionality of the software of the control unit of the Energetic Particle Detector instrument on-board Solar Orbiter.

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