Abstract The experiments are performed in two space simulation facilities of different dimensions (the simulated characteristics are vacuum, background temperature and solar irradiation). 1) The big Space Simulator is a horizontal cylinder of 4.8 m length and 3.5 m diameter. The test volume is surrounded by a liquid nitrogen-cooled shroud. The comet sample is cylindrical, 30 cm in diameter and 15 cm in height. 2) Height and diameter of the small chamber are around 1 m each. The model comet has dimensions of 10 × 7 × 6 cm3. The samples are prepared by injecting well-defined suspensions of water and minerals into liquid nitrogen. Results, obtained in the initial simulation tests are: The activity (gas and dust emission from the sample upon irradiation with light) of a model comet of given composition depends on the chamber pressure and the surface temperature. The angular distribution of the dust emission has a maximum towards the surface normal with a slight shift in the sunward direction. Particle velocities lie around a few m/s for 0.1 to 1 mm dust particles. The residual dust grains resemble Brownlee particles in porosity and mass density.
Comet simulation experiments in the DFVLR space simulators
Advances in Space Research ; 9 , 3 ; 113-122
1989-01-01
10 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
NTRS | 1987
Tema Archiv | 1975