publications

2024

1. Low-cost temperature sensor mount for cryogenic thermometry

   Linus Leo Stöckli , Rafael Ottersberg , and Nicolas Thomas

   2024

   in prep

   Abs

   Cryogenic experiments depend strongly on accurate temperature measurements. Currently, most of the sensors used for these purposes are glued to have an adequate thermal contact to the object that is measured. In order to have a more flexible and robust solution, we show a compact sensor mount for RTDs and diodes at temperatures from 70 K to 400 K with possible modifications for an extended range down below 20 K.

2. The Comet Interceptor Mission

   Geraint H. Jones , Colin Snodgrass , Cecilia Tubiana , and 231 more authors

   Space Science Reviews, Feb 2024

   Abs

   Here we describe the novel, multi-point Comet Interceptor mission. It is dedicated to the exploration of a little-processed long-period comet, possibly entering the inner Solar System for the first time, or to encounter an interstellar object originating at another star. The objectives of the mission are to address the following questions: What are the surface composition, shape, morphology, and structure of the target object? What is the composition of the gas and dust in the coma, its connection to the nucleus, and the nature of its interaction with the solar wind? The mission was proposed to the European Space Agency in 2018, and formally adopted by the agency in June 2022, for launch in 2029 together with the Ariel mission. Comet Interceptor will take advantage of the opportunity presented by ESA’s FClass call for fast, flexible, low-cost missions to which it was proposed. The call required a launch to a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L2 point. The mission can take advantage of this placement to wait for the discovery of a suitable comet reachable with its minimum ΔV capability of 600 ms−1. Comet Interceptor will be unique in encountering and studying, at a nominal closest approach distance of 1000 km, a comet that represents a near-pristine sample of material from the formation of the Solar System. It will also add a capability that no previous cometary mission has had, which is to deploy two sub-probes – B1, provided by the Japanese space agency, JAXA, and B2 – that will follow different trajectories through the coma. While the main probe passes at a nominal 1000 km distance, probes B1 and B2 will follow different chords through the coma at distances of 850 km and 400 km, respectively. The result will be unique, simultaneous, spatially resolved information of the 3-dimensional properties of the target comet and its interaction with the space environment. We present the mission’s science background leading to these objectives, as well as an overview of the scientific instruments, mission design, and schedule.