GIADA performance during Rosetta mission scientific operations at comet 67P
R. Sordini ; V. Della Corte ; A. Rotundi ; et al. ; - ASI Sponsor
Jul - 2017
DOI: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273117717305410?via%3Dihub

journal : Advances in Space Research
type: Article Journal

Abstract
The Grain Impact Analyser and Dust Accumulator (GIADA) instrument onboard Rosetta studied the dust environment of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko from 3.7 au inbound, through perihelion, to 3.8 au outbound, measuring the dust flow and the dynamic properties of individual particles. GIADA is composed of three subsystems: (1) Grain Detection System (GDS); (2) Impact Sensor (IS); and (3) Micro-Balances System (MBS). Monitoring the subsystems’ performance during operations is an important element for the correct calibration of scientific measurements. In this paper, we analyse the GIADA inflight calibration data obtained by internal calibration devices for the three subsystems during the period from 1 August 2014 to 31 October 2015. The calibration data testify a nominal behaviour of the instrument during these fifteen months of mission; the only exception is a minor loss of sensitivity for one of the two GDS receivers, attributed to dust contamination.

keywords : Rosetta ESA mission; GIADA; Dust instrument; Inflight calibration; Performance monitoring

Notes : Acknowledgements [...] This research was supported by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) within the INAF-ASI agreements I/032/05/0 and I/024/12/0.