Abstract Ptolemy is a Gas Chromatograph–Isotope Ratio–Mass Spectrometer (GC–IR–MS) aboard the Philae lander element of the Rosetta mission to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Developed to determine the chemical and stable light isotopic composition of cometary material, Ptolemy was conceived as a highly flexible instrument able to accommodate changes in operational functionality via software modification. This was considered essential to allow for different modes of operation not only in response to rapid/unexpected changes and opportunities, but also to longer-term shifts in priorities as the overall mission plan (and indeed cometary science in general) changed during the decades from initial concept to landing. Against the backdrop of events of the Philae landing, this paper describes the methods of instrument operation and rational behind them used to achieve the Ptolemy scientific results during the period 12–14th November 2014. In particular we demonstrate the importance of a flexible modular approach to the instrument architecture enabling complex instrument operations, especially in a situation where the environment of exploration is effectively unknown and some of the engineering solutions were being tested in the field for the first time.
Ptolemy operations at the surface of a comet, from planning to reality
Acta Astronautica ; 125 ; 196-211
2016-01-13
16 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
CDMS , Command and Data Management System (of the Philae Lander) , COSAC , COmetary SAmpling and Composition (instrument) , CSS , Chemistry Set Simulator (software development test equipment for Ptolemy) , EEPROM , Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory , EGSE , Electronic Ground support equipment , FM , Flight Model (of Ptolemy) , FSS , First Science Sequence , GC–IR–MS , Gas Chromatography–Isotope Ratio–Mass Spectrometer , GRM , Ground Reference Model , LCC , Lander Control Centre , MS , Mass Spectrometer , POM , Polyoxymethylene – a [CH<inf>2</inf>–O]<italic><inf>n</inf></italic> polymer , RAL , Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, a facility of the Science and Technology Facilities Council , RF , Radio Frequency , SD2 , Sampler Drill and Distribution System , SONC , Science Operations and Navigation Centre , TC , Tele-Command , TIC , Total Ion Count , QM , Qualification Model (of Ptolemy) , Rosetta , Philae , Mass spectrometer , Comets , Space mission
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