放射性源在行星探测分析仪器中的应用。

Application of radioactive sources in analytical instruments for planetary exploration.

作者信息

Economou Thanasis E

机构信息

Laboratory for Astrophysics and Space Research, Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.

出版信息

Appl Radiat Isot. 2010 Apr-May;68(4-5):542-5. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.09.011. Epub 2009 Sep 19.

DOI:10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.09.011

PMID:19850487

Abstract

Radioactive isotopes have been used in analytical instrumentation for planetary exploration since the very beginning of the space age. An Alpha Scattering Instrument (ASI) on board the Surveyor 5, 6 and 7 spacecrafts used the isotope (242)Cm to obtain the chemical composition of the lunar surface material in 1960s. The Alpha Proton X-ray Spectrometers (APXS) used on several mission to Mars (Pathfinder, Mars-96, Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) and on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), the next mission to Mars in 2011 and on the Rosetta mission to a comet) are improved derivatives of the original ASI, complimented with an X-ray mode and using the longer lived (244)Cm isotope. (57)Co, (55)Fe and many other radioisotopes have been used in several missions carrying XRF and Mössbauer instruments. In addition, (238)Pu isotope is exclusively being used in most of the space missions for heating and power generation.

摘要

自太空时代伊始，放射性同位素就已应用于行星探测的分析仪器中。20世纪60年代，勘测者5号、6号和7号航天器上搭载的α散射仪（ASI）使用同位素锔-242来获取月球表面物质的化学成分。在几次火星探测任务（探路者号、火星96号、火星探测漫游者（MER）以及火星科学实验室（MSL），后者是2011年的下一次火星探测任务，还有罗塞塔彗星探测任务）中使用的α质子X射线光谱仪（APXS）是原始ASI的改进衍生产品，配备了X射线模式，并使用半衰期更长的锔-244同位素。钴-57、铁-55以及许多其他放射性同位素已用于搭载X射线荧光光谱仪（XRF）和穆斯堡尔谱仪的几次任务中。此外，钚-238同位素专门用于大多数太空任务中的加热和发电。