BepiColombo MIXS focal plane assembly: from concept design to proto-flight model

Abstract

This paper describes the thermo-mechanical design of the BepiColombo MIXS (Mercury Imaging X-Ray Spectrometer) Focal Plane Assembly (FPA) Proto Flight Model (PFM), with references to the preliminary design and the evolution of the design. An outline of physical testing already performed to gain confidence before the PFM campaign is also given.