The DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE), one of the four scientific space science missions within the framework of the Strategic Pioneer Program on Space Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is a general purpose high energy cosmic-ray and gamma-ray observatory, which was successfully launched on December 17th, 2015 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The DAMPE scientific objectives include the study of galactic cosmic rays up to $\sim 10$ TeV and hundreds of TeV for electrons/gammas and nuclei respectively, and the search for dark matter signatures in their spectra. In this paper we illustrate the layout of the DAMPE instrument, and discuss the results of beam tests and calibrations performed on ground. Finally we present the expected performance in space and give an overview of the mission key scientific goals.Comment: 45 pages, including 29 figures and 6 tables. Published in Astropart. Phy

A BGO electromagnetic calorimeter is built for DArk Matter Particle Explorer(DAMPE) mission. The temperature effect of BGO ECAL has been investigated with a thermal vacuum experiment. The light output of BGO crystal depends on temperature significantly. Temperature coefficient of each BGO crystal bar has been calibrated, and a correction method is also presented in this paper.

A: Photomultiplier tube (PMT) modules were selected to read out the signals in the BGO electromagnetic calorimeter for the Dark Matter Particle Explorer satellite. The test procedure and the related quality control of mass production PMT modules are described, with a summary of PMT module quality and the results from tests. With strict quality control throughout the production and test process, over 88% of the PMT modules meet the criteria required by DAMPE. K: Calorimeters; Gamma telescopes; Large detector systems for particle and astroparticle physics 1Corresponding author.

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