DLR - Institute of Space Simulation, 'Planetary Physics' Group

Properties of planetary and cometary surfaces

Laboratory simulation und modelling
- Processes and physical properties
  Systematical und reproducible experimental investigation of relevant physical processes and the resulting physical properties of planetary and cometary surfaces.
- Inner structure of active surfaces
  Modelling und simulation of physical properties of active planetary and cometary surfaces and underlying stratifications.
Space experiments
- SESAME
  The SESAME instrument, schedulded to fly onboard the Rosetta Lander to comet 46P/Wirtanen in 2003, will perform acoustic and electrical measurements on the cometary surface. Also the dust activity will be a subject of investigation by SESAME.
- Mobile Penetrator ('Mole')
  This pen-sized device carries scientific instruments under a planetary surface to a depth only restricted by its supply cable without using any drill harness.

Growth of small bodies
- Dust aggregation
  Collision-driven aggregation of fractal dust particles to compacted structures.
- Local processes of structuring
  Gravitational and material structuring in the preplanetary Disc.
Space experiments
- The CODAG Experiment:
  Particle generators have been developed for the space experiments CODAG-GAS and CODAG-SRE. Both devices generate clouds of small particles in vacuum by small amount of explosive.
- The PartEx Experiment:
  PartEx is proposed to fly on the international space station. This experiment deals with the handling of small particles by stimulated desorption of adsorbates.

Space and Planetary Simulation Chamber
This simulation chamber with an usable volume of 2.7 m³ offers the possibility for experiments under space conditions (vacuum, cold, sunlight) as well as planetary environments (various atmospheric gases with low pressure, cold, sunlight).

Comet Simulation Chamber
A space simulator (vacuum, cold, sunlight) with an cylindrical experimental compartment of 60 cm x 60 cm.

Cold Lab
This cold room with an area of 6.5 m² can be cooled down for experiments under cold conditions constantly to a maximum of -40^oC.

The following technical innovations can be offered:

Name	Phone	e-mail	Topic
Dr. Klaus Seidensticker	+49-2203-601-3104	klaus.seidensticker@dlr.de	Comet chamber, SESAME PI
Hermann Kochan	... -2667	hermann.kochan@dlr.de	Facilities, planetary physics, CoI
Dr. Dietmar Neuhaus	... -2275	dietmar.neuhaus@dlr.de	Innovation
Prof. Dr. Diedrich Möhlmann	+49-30-67055-309	dirk.moehlmann@dlr.de	Physics, modelling, SESAME CoI
Dr. Michael Kretschmer (MPE)	+49-89-30000-3610	mkr@mpe.mpg.de	SESAME development, CoI
FAX	+49-2203-601-2352

Planetary Physics Group
The nucleus of comet P/Halley, seen from the VEGA spacecraft in 1986 from a distance of 9000 km.	The Space- and Planetary Simulation Chamber at DLR's Institute of Space Simulation, Cologne.	Ice and dust particles are emitted from an artificial cometary surface inside the Simulation Chamber.