Abstract
The Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis (ROSINA) will answer important questions posed by the mission’s main objectives. After Giotto, this will be the first time the volatile part of a comet will be analyzed in situ. This is a very important investigation, as comets, in contrast to meteorites, have maintained most of the volatiles of the solar nebula. To accomplish the very demanding objectives through all the different phases of the comet’s activity, ROSINA has unprecedented capabilities including very wide mass range (1 to >300 amu), very high mass resolution (m/Δ m > 3000, i.e. the ability to resolve CO from N2 and 13C from 12CH), very wide dynamic range and high sensitivity, as well as the ability to determine cometary gas velocities, and temperature. ROSINA consists of two mass spectrometers for neutrals and primary ions with complementary capabilities and a pressure sensor. To ensure that absolute gas densities can be determined, each mass spectrometer carries a reservoir of a calibrated gas mixture allowing in-flight calibration. Furthermore, identical flight-spares of all three sensors will serve for detailed analysis of all relevant parameters, in particular the sensitivities for complex organic molecules and their fragmentation patterns in our electron bombardment ion sources.
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Abbreviations
- ADC:
-
analogue-to-digital converter
- ASP:
-
acceleration supply pack
- CASYMIR:
-
calibration system for the mass spectrometer instrument ROSINA
- CEM:
-
channel electron multiplier
- COPS:
-
comet pressure sensor
- DFMS:
-
double focusing magnetic mass spectrometer
- DPU:
-
data processing unit
- EGSE:
-
electrical ground support equipment
- ESA:
-
electroStatic analyzer
- ETS:
-
equivalent time sampling
- ETSL:
-
equivalent time sampling light
- FC:
-
Faraday cup
- FDP:
-
floating detector pack
- FEC:
-
filament emission controller
- FIFO:
-
first in first out
- FM:
-
flight model
- FOV:
-
field of view
- FS:
-
flight spare model
- GCU:
-
gas calibration unit
- HV:
-
high voltage
- IMS:
-
ion mass spectrometer on Giotto
- LEDA:
-
linear electron detector array
- LVPS:
-
low voltage power supply
- MCP:
-
multichannel plate
- MCP:
-
main controller
- MEP:
-
main electronics pack
- MLI:
-
multiLayer insulation
- MS:
-
mass spectrometer
- NMS:
-
neutral mass spectrometer on Giotto
- RDP:
-
remote detector pack
- ROSINA :
-
Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis
- RTOF:
-
reflectron type time-of-flight mass spectrometer
- SEL:
-
single event latch-up
- SEU:
-
single event upset
- TDC:
-
time-to-digital converter
- TIMAS:
-
toroidal imaging mass angle spectrograph
- TOF:
-
time of flight
- UHV:
-
ultra-high vacuum
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Balsiger, H., Altwegg, K., Bochsler, P. et al. Rosina – Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis. Space Sci Rev 128, 745–801 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-006-8335-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-006-8335-3