Micro-Hybrid sensors go boldly aboard Philae

摘要

Micro-Hybrid Electronic of Berlin developed aerospace-grade sensor and evaluation electronics for scientific instruments installed on the Rosetta space probe's lander, Philae, which landed on the surface of the Churyu-mov-Gerasimenko comet in November. Launched in 2004, Rosetta's main task was to discover more about how life may have arrived on earth. One of the 10 instrument modules is APXS (Alpha Protons X-ray Spectrometer), whose function is to analyse the chemical composition of the surface of the comet. In order to investigate a particular material, the device bombards its surface with alpha particles and X-rays. By measuring the backscatter from the particles, scientists can deduce the chemical composition of the material and obtain information about the presence of carbon and oxygen, both essential for life to form. The sensor evaluation and electronics for APXS were developed by Micro-Hybrid to withstand 10 arduous years of space flight time and the high impact shocks and vibrations resulting from landing on the rough terrain of the comet.