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The Galileo dust detectorThe Galileo Dust Detector is intended to provide direct observations of dust grains with masses between 10(sup -19) kg and 10(sup -9) kg in interplanetary space and in the Jovian system, to investigate their physical and dynamical properties as functions of the distances to the Sun, to Jupiter and to its satellites, to study its interaction with the Galilean satellites and the Jovian magnetosphere. Surface phenomena of the satellites (like albedo variations), which might be effects of meteoroid impacts will be compared with the dust environment. Electric charges of particulate matter in the magnetosphere and its consequences will be studied; e.g. the effects of the magnetic field on the trajectories of dust particles and fragmentation of particles due to electrostatic disruption. The investigation is performed with an instrument that measures the mass, speed, flight direction and electric charge of individual dust particles. It is a multi-coincidence detector with a mass sensitivity 10(sup 6) times higher than that of previous in-situ experiments which measured dust in the outer solar system. The instrument weighs 4.2 kg, consumes 2.4 W, and has a normal data transmission rate of 24 bits/s in nominal spacecraft tracking mode. On December 29, 1989 the instrument was switched-on. After the instrument had been configured to flight conditions cruise science data collection started immediately. In the period to May 18, 1990 at least 168 dust impacts have been recorded. For 81 of these dust grains, masses and impact speeds have been determined. First flux values are also given.
Document ID
19960047532
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Gruen, E.
(Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Kernphysik Heidelberg, Germany)
Fechtig, H.
(Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Kernphysik Heidelberg, Germany)
Hanner, M. S.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Kissel, J.
(Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Kernphysik Heidelberg, Germany)
Lindblad, B. A.
(Lund Observatory Sweden)
Linkert, D.
(Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Kernphysik Heidelberg, Germany)
Maas, D.
(Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Kernphysik Heidelberg, Germany)
Morfill, G. E.
(Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Extraterrestrische Physik Garching, Germany)
Zook, H. A.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX United States)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1990
Subject Category
Spacecraft Instrumentation
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.15:220457
NASA-TM-220457
Accession Number
96N72669
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: BMFT-01QJ087
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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