Seminar: IWF Astrolaboratory
The IWF Astro-Lab exists since 1993 at the Space Research Institute. At the beginning it was dedicated to the research of thermal properties of cometary surfaces as a consequence of the Giotto mission to comet Halley. Because of this work we became members of the Rosetta Lander Philae. Our contribution was the MUPUS thermal and mechanical physical properties instrument on the lander but also sensors on the anchor system. Over the years, the laboratory was concentrating on the investigation of physical properties of planetary surface materials, like thermal, mechanical, optical and electrical properties of solid and granular regolith type surfaces.
Usually, the investigated property was in conjunction of an instrument on a space mission e.g., Cassini/Huygens, Rosetta/Philae or the InSight lander. But tests and investigations were also made for preparatory work of mission proposals.
In this presentation we will show the existing laboratory facilities and also the associated simulation capabilities. The core of the laboratory are two thermal – vacuum chambers which can be adapted to a range of simulation scenarios. The main focus of current activities is on the measurement of gas flow properties in a dedicated smaller experiment set-up.
In the final part of the presentation, we will address possibilities for future collaborations within the institute outside of our direct field of research.