Surface Dust Analyser
{{Infobox spacecraft instrument
| Name =
| Image = Europa Clipper's Dust Analyzer.jpg
| Caption =
| Operator = NASA
| Manufacturer = University of Colorado Boulder
| Type = Time-of-flight mass spectrometer
| Function = Mapping surface composition
| Mission_Duration = Cruise: 3-6 years
Science phase: ≥ 3 years
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| Ceased =
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| Mass = {{convert|5|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| Dimensions = {{val|26.8|×|25.0|×|17.1|u=cm}}
| Number =
| Power_consumption =
| Resolution =
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| Spacecraft = Europa Clipper
| SC_Operator = NASA
| Launch = {{Start date text|October 14, 2024, 16:06:00|timezone=yes}} UTC (12:06 pm EDT)
| Rocket = Falcon Heavy
| Launch_Site = Kennedy Space Center
| COSPAR =
}}
The SUrface Dust Analyzer (SUDA) is a time-of-flight mass spectrometer of reflectron-type that employs impact ionization and is optimised for a high mass resolution.[https://phys.org/news/2015-05-surface-mass-suda-europa-mission.html SUrface Dust Mass Analyzer (SUDA) selected for Europa mission]. Sascha Kempf, Phys Org. May 27, 2015.[http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2014/EPSC2014-229.pdf SUDA: A Dust Mass Spectrometer for Compositional Surface Mapping for a Mission to Europa] (PDF). S. Kempf, N. Altobelli, C. Briois, E. Grün, M. Horanyi, F. Postberg, J. Schmidt, R. Srama, Z. Sternovsky, G. Tobie, and M. Zolotov. EPSC Abstracts Vol. 9, EPSC2014-229, 2014. European Planetary Science Congress 2014. The instrument was selected in May 2015 to fly on board the Europa Clipper mission which was sent to Jupiter's moon Europa in October, 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-14 |title=NASA's Europa Clipper Mission |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/europaclipper/ |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=blogs.nasa.gov |language=en-US}}
This instrument will measure the composition of small, solid particles ejected from Europa, providing the opportunity to directly sample the surface and potential plumes on low-altitude flybys. Europa's internal liquid water ocean has been identified as one of the locations in the Solar System that may offer habitable environments to microbial extraterrestrial life.{{cite news |first=Casey |last=Dreier |title=Europa: No Longer a "Should," But a "Must" |date=12 December 2013 |url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/casey-dreier/2013/1212-europa-no-longer-a-should-but-a-must.html |work=The Planetary Society }}{{cite web |title=Alternative Energy Sources Could Support Life on Europa |url=http://www.geo.utep.edu/pub/dirksm/geobiowater/pdf/EOS27March2001.pdf |last=Schulze-Makuch |first=Dirk |last2=Irwin |first2=Louis N. |work=Departments of Geological and Biological Sciences |publisher=University of Texas at El Paso |year=2001 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060703033956/http://www.geo.utep.edu/pub/dirksm/geobiowater/pdf/EOS27March2001.pdf |archivedate=2006-07-03 }}{{cite news |title=Lean U.S. missions to Mars, Jupiter moon recommended |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-usa-future-idUSTRE7266XJ20110308 |publisher=Reuters |date=7 March 2011|last=Zabarenko |first=Deborah }}
Overview
File:Europa Clipper's Dust Analyzer sensor head.jpg
The basic idea of compositional mapping is that moons without an atmosphere are surrounded by clouds of dust particles released from their surfaces by meteoroid bombardment. The ejected particles can be sampled and their composition analyzed from orbit or during a spacecraft flyby. Since these grains are direct samples from the moons' icy surfaces, determination of their composition will help to define and constrain the geological activities on and below the moons' surface, the exchange processes with the deeper interior, and assess its internal ocean habitability potential.[https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/ipm2012/pdf/1134.pdf SUDA: a dust mass spectrometer for compositional surface mapping for the JUICE mission to the Galilean moons] (PDF). S. Kempf, C. Briois, H. Cottin, C. Engrand, E. Grün, K. Hand, H. Henkel, M. Horányi, M. Lankton, J.-P. Lebreton, F. Postberg, J. Schmidt, R. Srama, Z. Sternovsky, R. Thissen, G. Tobie, C. Szopa, and M. Zolotov. International Workshop on Instrumentation for Planetary Missions, 2012. The instrument is capable of identifying traces of organic and inorganic compounds in the ice of ejecta.{{cite journal |title=Linear high resolution dust mass spectrometer for a mission to the Galilean satellites |journal=Planetary and Space Science |date=May 2012 |last=Kempf |first=Sascha |volume=65 |issue=1 |pages=10–20 |doi=10.1016/j.pss.2011.12.019 |display-authors=etal |bibcode=2012P&SS...65...10K}}
The SUDA instrument has technological heritage from the Cassini CDA and the Stardust CIDA instruments. The Principal Investigator is Sascha Kempf, from the University of Colorado Boulder. Co-investigators on the instrument include Mihaly Horanyi and Zoltan Sternovsky.
| class="wikitable" | |
| Parameter | Units/performance |
|---|---|
| Mass | {{convert|5|kg|lb|abbr=on}} |
| Dimensions | {{val|26.8|×|25.0|×|17.1|u=cm}} |
| Sensitive area | 220 cm2 |
| Effective mass resolution | 200 to 250 m/Δm |
| Mass range of interest | 1–250 Da |
Scientists expect SUDA to be able to detect a single cell in an ice grain.{{cite journal |doi=10.1126/sciadv.adl0849 |title=How to identify cell material in a single ice grain emitted from Enceladus or Europa |date=2024 |last1=Klenner |first1=Fabian |last2=Bönigk |first2=Janine |last3=Napoleoni |first3=Maryse |last4=Hillier |first4=Jon |last5=Khawaja |first5=Nozair |last6=Olsson-Francis |first6=Karen |last7=Cable |first7=Morgan L. |last8=Malaska |first8=Michael J. |last9=Kempf |first9=Sascha |last10=Abel |first10=Bernd |last11=Postberg |first11=Frank |journal=Science Advances |volume=10 |issue=12 |pages=eadl0849 |pmid=38517965 |pmc=10959401 }}
Objectives
- Provide a spatially resolved compositional map of Europa for the regions along the groundtracks of the orbiter's flybys.
- Characterize the alteration of Europa's surface via exogenous dust impacts by measuring the composition, size, speed, and spatial distribution of dust in the vicinity of the moon.
- Investigate the local plasma environment of Europa by measuring the electrostatic charge of dust particles in the vicinity of the moon.
References
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{{Europa Clipper}}
{{Europa}}
{{Astrobiology}}
{{Satellite and spacecraft instruments}}