Swenson B L, Squyres S W, Knight T C
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif, USA.
Acta Astronaut. 1987;15(6-7):471-9. doi: 10.1016/0094-5765(87)90185-8.
Among the major objectives of NASA's program of space exploration is a better understanding of the origin and evolution of the solar system. Crucial to this objective is the study of comets, which are thought to be the most primitive, pristine bodies remaining in the solar system. The importance of the study of comets has led NASA to plan a mission to rendezvous with comet Tempel 2 in 1997. Critical to the understanding of comets will be measurements of the nucleus material to determine its elemental and isotopic composition, its mechanical properties, and its thermal state and properties. This paper describes a proposal for a Comet Nucleus Penetrator to accomplish these measurement goals. The Comet Nucleus Penetrator will implant instruments into the comet's nucleus beneath a probable volatile-depleted surface mantle into material more representative of the bulk composition of the nucleus.
美国国家航空航天局（NASA）太空探索计划的主要目标之一是更好地了解太阳系的起源和演化。实现这一目标的关键在于对彗星的研究，彗星被认为是太阳系中现存最原始、最纯净的天体。对彗星研究的重要性促使NASA计划在1997年执行一项与坦普尔2号彗星会合的任务。对彗星理解的关键将是对彗核物质的测量，以确定其元素和同位素组成、力学性质以及热状态和属性。本文描述了一种用于实现这些测量目标的彗核穿透器的提议。彗核穿透器将把仪器植入彗星核内，穿透可能已耗尽挥发性物质的表面覆盖层，进入更能代表彗核整体组成的物质中。
