Qualification tests of the space telescope PAMELA

PAMELA is a satellite-borne experiment which will investigate the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the universe and other cosmological problems through precise cosmic-ray measurements, The apparatus is built around a permanent magnetic spectrometer equipped with a double-sided silicon microstrip tracking system and surrounded by a scintillator anticoincidence system. Several detectors are used in parallel for particle identification: a silicon-tungsten imaging calorimeter, followed by a scintillator shower tail catcher, and a transition radiation detector made up of carbon fibre radiators and proportional straw tubes. Fast scintillators are used for Time-Of-Flight measurements and to provide the primary trigger. A neutron detector is finally provided to extend the range of particle measurements to very high energies. PAMELA will be operated on-board of the Resurs-DK1 satellite, which will be put into a semi-polar orbit in 2004 by a Soyuz rocket. Purpose of this paper is to report about the mechanical, thermal and electro-diagnostic tests aimed to space qualify the PAMELA telescope before the launch.