The mass composition of cosmic rays according to data obtained in the SOKOL-2 satellite experiment

The mass number of cosmic-ray nuclei was obtained using the data from the SOKOL-2 satellite experiment. The mean logarithm of the mass number was determined by two independent methods - the direct method using a charge detector and indirect method using cascade shape information obtained by the ionization calorimeter. We obtained the energy dependence of the mean logarithm of the mass number in the energy range 3-200 TeV. The analysis of the SOKOL-2 data showed the applicability of the indirect methods to determine the mass number. The values of the mean logarithm of the mass number obtained by different experiments are consistent.