Author(s): Camille Yoke, University of Colorado Boulder (First Author, Presenting Author) Tobin Munsat, University of Colorado John Fontanese, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics Jordy Bouwman, University of Colorado Boulder Sascha Kempf, LASP/University of Colorado
This study uses a high-speed dust accelerator to study how icy particles likely behave when they hit spacecraft time-of-flight mass spectrometers. By analyzing the molecules that break off during these impacts, we can better interpret data from past and future space missions like Cassini (CDA) and Europa Clipper (SUDA). The work also shows that salty ice behaves differently than pure ice, which could affect how we understand the composition of icy moons like Europa or Enceladus.
