Session
Session 6: Instruments / Science II
Abstract
The CubeSat Electrostatic Dust Analyzer (CEDA) is developed by the Dust BUSTER student team at the University of Colorado for exploring electrostatic dust transport processes on the surfaces of airless bodies such as asteroids and the Moon. CEDA is a 6U cubesat that consists of a 2U dust analyzer module and an autonomous repositioning system (ARS). This instrument measures the charge, velocity, and mass of lofted dust particles, and provides the lofting rate in order to estimate the efficiency of electrostatic dust transport in surface processes. The dust analyzer module consists of two Dust Trajectory Sensor (DTS) units with a Deflection Field Electrodes (DFE) unit in between them. A dust particle can enter from either end of the analyzer and its charge and velocity are measured using the wire-electrodes on which the charge is induced as the particle passes through. The charged particle is deflected in the DFE where its mass is determined from the deflection trajectory. The ARS, consisting of the sun sensors, cover doors and tilting mechanisms, repositions the instrument for optimized dust measurement on the surface. The communication needs to be provided by the mother spacecraft.
Cubesat Electrostatic Dust Analyzer (CEDA) for Measuring Regolith Dust Transport on Airless Bodies
The CubeSat Electrostatic Dust Analyzer (CEDA) is developed by the Dust BUSTER student team at the University of Colorado for exploring electrostatic dust transport processes on the surfaces of airless bodies such as asteroids and the Moon. CEDA is a 6U cubesat that consists of a 2U dust analyzer module and an autonomous repositioning system (ARS). This instrument measures the charge, velocity, and mass of lofted dust particles, and provides the lofting rate in order to estimate the efficiency of electrostatic dust transport in surface processes. The dust analyzer module consists of two Dust Trajectory Sensor (DTS) units with a Deflection Field Electrodes (DFE) unit in between them. A dust particle can enter from either end of the analyzer and its charge and velocity are measured using the wire-electrodes on which the charge is induced as the particle passes through. The charged particle is deflected in the DFE where its mass is determined from the deflection trajectory. The ARS, consisting of the sun sensors, cover doors and tilting mechanisms, repositions the instrument for optimized dust measurement on the surface. The communication needs to be provided by the mother spacecraft.
