Den 2023-06-16 skrev Martin Brown <'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk>:
On 16/06/2023 06:36, RichA wrote:
Read this passage. It's from an article on "phys.org."
"Planetary scientists have already gathered and studied ice samples in depth from Saturn and Jupiter's moons Enceladus and Europa with microfluidic devices."
So, when did this happen?
https://phys.org/news/2023-06-microfluidics-space-extraterrestrial-life-signatures.html
The SDA or Surface Dust Analyser that flew on the probe past those moons
was equipped with a micro miniature TOF mass spec.
From what I understand reading Wikipedia, SUDA hasn't been used in
space yet and previous missions used other, but similar devices. The
Cassini CDA and Stardust CIDA are mentioned. According to NASA[0],
the Europa Clipper will be launched in 2024 carrying the SUDA.
They analysed ice particles caught on the sensor surface for
composition.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_Dust_Analyser
Or in much more detail:
https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2014/EPSC2014-229.pdf
It is a very cunning design and out in space they already have a vacuum!
It doesn't produce coffee table book pretty pictures so its experimental results are largely (totally?) ignored by the popular press.
Very interesting stuff! Thank you for a good read!
[0]:
https://europa.nasa.gov/mission/about/
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