Product category:
Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment
News Release from: Labcell
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 07 April 2004
Thermal analyser set for Martian mission
A modified version of the Decagon Devices KD2 thermal analyser is to go to Mars in 2007, aboard NASA's Phoenix Scout Mars Lander.
The Decagon Devices KD2 thermal analyser, available in the UK exclusively through Labcell, is a handheld instrument used for measuring thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, thermal resistivity and temperature With a simple probe that is inserted into the sample, the KD2 is normally used for soils, powders, gels - and occasionally liquids - found in the food, pharmaceutical, agricultural and horticultural industries
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 31 Mar 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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But now a modified device is to go to Mars in 2007, aboard NASA's Phoenix Scout Mars Lander.
When the Phoenix Scout lands on Mars' Northern hemisphere, it will use a robotic arm to push the Decagon probe into the planet's surface to measure the thermal conductivity of the regolith, the Martian soil material.
This will give scientists valuable information about how much the normally cold regolith warms up when exposed to direct sunlight.
Such data will be important for planning manned missions to Mars in the future.
Essentially the instrument for the Mars mission is the same as the KD2 production units, but respecified and repackaged to suit the requirements of this unusual application.
One particular area of development relates to an international agreement whereby anything sent to Mars from Earth must be absolutely sterile.
In order to meet this requirement, the instrument has to withstand being cleaned in a bath of high-temperature hydrogen peroxide.
NASA is currently performing extensive tests to ensure that the instrument will perform as needed, with no risk of failure in this one-chance-only deployment.
Collin Campbell helps to run Decagon Devices, the company founded by his father Gaylon in Pullman, Washington State, USA.
Working with the NASA scientists, Campbell and his team were able to produce solutions to all of the challenges that arose during the development programme.
Michael Hecht of NASA states: "We're glad to have the Decagon probe on board.
The people in Pullman have been both adaptable and unflappable.
I can't say enough kind words about the Campbells and their employees at Decagon.
Gaylon and Collin are extraordinary experts in their field and they have brought me up to speed on many issues in soil science measurements".
Missions to Mars have had mixed results in recent times, but NASA is determined to continue along the path that will ultimately fulfil President George W Bush's dream of putting a man on Mars.
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