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Related Experiment Videos

The determination of ice composition with instruments on cometary landers.

W V Boynton1, L C D'Uston, D T Young

  • 1The University of Arizona, USA.

Acta Astronautica
|May 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary

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Understanding comet origins requires analyzing ice composition and phases. New instruments like differential scanning calorimeters and evolved gas analyzers precisely measure these properties, revealing crucial details about primitive solar system materials.

Area of Science:

  • Planetary Science
  • Astrochemistry
  • Cosmochemistry

Background:

  • Cometary ice composition provides insights into early solar system conditions.
  • Different astrophysical environments produce distinct ice compositions.
  • Understanding ice phases (e.g., pure solid, clathrate hydrates, adsorbed on amorphous ice) is key to deciphering cometary origins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the detailed composition and phase of cometary ices.
  • To constrain the astrophysical conditions under which comets formed.
  • To analyze bulk elemental and isotopic composition for origin insights.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and evolved gas analyzer (EGA) for in-situ analysis.
  • Employed a tandem mass spectrometer system (magnetic-sector ion-momentum analyzer and electrostatic time-of-flight analyzer) for gas analysis.

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  • Incorporated a gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) for bulk elemental composition determination via neutron interactions.

    • Main Results:

    • The combined DSC-EGA system precisely correlates gas release with phase transitions.
    • The mass spectrometer system resolves ambiguities in identifying molecular fragments and determines isotopic ratios.
    • GRS provides bulk elemental abundances by analyzing gamma-ray flux, offering representative composition.

    Conclusions:

    • Lander-based measurements offer significant advantages over orbiter observations for determining ice phases and localized isotopic compositions.
    • Accurate phase and isotopic composition data are crucial for understanding cometary formation processes.
    • Combined analytical techniques provide a comprehensive approach to unraveling cometary origins.