Calibration of dust instruments
Dust instruments for spacecraft are calibrated by accelerating cosmic dust analogs onto the instrument targets, in order to analyze the signals for different compositions, morphologies, masses and velocities of the dust. We collaborate closely with our colleagues from institutes who perform such tests.
The dust accelerator in Heidelberg was used to calibrate dust instruments for high-velocity dust impacts, up to velocities of more than 80 km s-1. Copyright:Veerle Sterken
The Cassini Cosmic Dust Analyser: when cosmic dust particles pass through an entrance grid and hit the target in the back, their velocity, mass and eventually composition can be measured. Image credit: MPIK - Univ. Stuttgart.