IRF: Swedish Instrument Has Landed on the Moon
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 4:24 pm
Swedish Instrument Has Landed on the Moon
Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) | 2019 Jan 03
Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) | 2019 Jan 03
On January 3, 03:26 Swedish time, the Chinese Chang’E-4 spacecraft landed successfully on the far side of the Moon. The Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) has developed one of the scientific instruments on board. The aim of the instrument is to study how the solar wind interacts with the lunar surface.
It is an historic event as it is the first time a spacecraft is landing on the far side of the Moon. It is also the second time Swedish instrumentation is used on the lunar surface; 50 years ago Hasselblad cameras were used during the Apollo missions.
The Advanced Small Analyzer for Neutrals (ASAN) instrument was developed by the Swedish Institute of Space Physics in Kiruna -- in collaboration with the Chinese National Space Science Center (NSSC). The instrument investigates how the solar wind, a flow of charged particles from the Sun, interacts with the lunar surface. ASAN is mounted on the rover of Chang’E-4, which makes it possible to perform measurements at different locations. The measurements could shed light on the processes responsible for the formation of water on the Moon. ...