Titan atmospheric composition by hypervelocity shock layer analysisThe Cassini Mission, a NASA/ESA cooperative project which includes a deployment of probe into the atmosphere of Titan, is described, with particular attention given to the shock radiometer experiment planned for the Titan probe for the analysis of Titan's atmosphere. Results from a shock layer analysis are presented, demonstrating that the mole fractions of the major species (N2, CH4, and, possibly Ar) in the Titan atmosphere can be successfully determined by the Titan-probe radiometer, by measuring the intensity of the CN(violet) radiation emitted in the shock layer during the high velocity portion of the probe entry between 200 and 400 km altitude. It is shown that the sensitivity of the CN(violet) radiation makes it possible to determine the mole fractions of N2, CH4, and Ar to about 0.015, 0.003, and 0.01, respectively, i.e., much better than the present uncertainties in the composition of Titan atmosphere.
Document ID
19890055909
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Nelson, H. F. (Missouri-Rolla, University Rolla, United States)
Park, Chul (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Whiting, Ellis E. (Eloret Institute Sunnyvale, CA, United States)