Philae (spacecraft) - Instruments

Instruments

The science payload of the lander consists of 10 instruments with 26.7 kg making up nearly one third of the mass of the lander.

  • APXS (Alpha Proton X-ray Spectrometer) APXS analyzes the chemical element composition of the surface below the lander. The instrument is an improved version of the APXS of the Mars Pathfinder.
  • COSAC (The COmetary SAmpling and Composition) The combined gas chromatograph and time of flight mass spectrometry will perform analysis of soil samples and determine the content of volatile components.
  • Ptolemy
  • ÇIVA (Comet Nucleus Infrared and Visible Analyzer)
  • ROLIS (Rosetta Lander Imaging System)
  • CONSERT (COmet Nucleus Sounding Experiment by Radiowave Transmission). The Consert radar will perform the tomography of the nucleus by measuring electromagnetic wave propagation from Philae and the Rosetta probe throughout the comet nucleus in order to determine its internal structures and to deduce information on its composition.
  • MUPUS (MUlti-PUrpose Sensors for Surface and Sub-Surface Science)
  • ROMAP (Rosetta Lander Magnetometer and Plasma Monitor)
  • SESAME (Surface Electric Sounding and Acoustic Monitoring Experiment)
  • SD2 (The sampling, drilling and distribution subsystem)

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