Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer for the Huygens Probe

  • Published:
Space Science Reviews Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GCMS) on the Huygens Probe will measure the chemical composition of Titan's atmosphere from 170 km altitude (∼1 hPa) to the surface (∼1500 hPa) and determine the isotope ratios of the major gaseous constituents. The GCMS will also analyze gas samples from the Aerosol Collector Pyrolyser (ACP) and may be able to investigate the composition (including isotope ratios) of several candidate surface materials.

The GCMS is a quadrupole mass filter with a secondary electron multiplier detection system and a gas sampling system providing continuous direct atmospheric composition measurements and batch sampling through three gas chromatographic (GC) columns. The mass spectrometer employs five ion sources sequentially feeding the mass analyzer. Three ion sources serve as detectors for the GC columns and two are dedicated to direct atmosphere sampling and ACP gas sampling respectively. The instrument is also equipped with a chemical scrubber cell for noble gas analysis and a sample enrichment cell for selective measurement of high boiling point carbon containing constituents. The mass range is 2 to 141 Dalton and the nominal detection threshold is at a mixing ratio of 10− 8. The data rate available from the Probe system is 885 bit/s. The weight of the instrument is 17.3 kg and the energy required for warm up and 150 minutes of operation is 110 Watt-hours.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aflalaye A., Sternberg, R., Raulin, F., and Vidal-Madjar, C.: 1995, J. Chromatogr. A708, 283-291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atreya, S. K.: 1986, Atmospheres and Ionospheres of the Outer Planets and their Satellites, Springer-Verlag: New York-Berlin, pp. 166-196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atreya, S. K., Donahue, T. M., and Kuhn, W. R.: 1978, Science 212, 206-211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balsiger H., Altwegg K., and Geiss J.: 1995, J. of Geophys. Res.-Space Phys. 100, 5827-5834.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Bézard, B., Marten, A., and Paubert, G.: 1993, Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 25, 1100.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Bockelee-Morvan, D., Gautier, D., Lis D. C., Young, K., Keene, J., Phillips, T., Owen, T., Croivisier, J., Goldsmith, P. H., Bergin, E. A., Despois, D., and Wooten. A.: 1998, Icarus 133, 147.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Broadfoot, L. and 15 co-authors.: 1981, Science 212, 206-211.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • de Bergh, C., Lutz, B. L., Owen, T., and Chauville, J.: 1988, Astrophys. J. 329, 951-955.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Combes, M., Vapillon, L. Gendron, E., Coustenis, A., Lai, O., Wittemberg, R., and Sirdey, R.: 1997, Icarus 129, 482-497.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Courtin, R., Gautier, D., and McKay, C,: 1995, Icarus 114, 144-162.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Courtin, R., de Bergh, C., Gautier, D., and Owen, T.: 1998, Paper presented at COSPAR, Nagoya, Japan, July 1998.

  • Coustenis, A. Salama, A., Lellouch, E., Encrenaz, T., Bjoraker, G. L., Samuelson, R. E., de Grauw, T., Feichtgruber, H., and Kessler, M. F.: 1998a, Astron. Astrophysics 336, L85-L89.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Coustenis, A., Encrenaz, T., Salama, A., Lellouch, E., Bjoraker, G., Samuelson, R. E., de Grauw, T., Kestler, M. F., Gautier, D., and Orton, G.: 1998b, Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 30-3, 1060.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Coustenis, A. and Bézard, B.: 1995 Icarus 115, 126.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Coustenis, A., Bézard, B., and Gautier, D.: 1989, Icarus 82, 67-80.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Dawson, P. H.: 1976, in Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry and its Applications, American Vacuum Society Classics, American Insitute of Physics Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Vanssay E., Gazeau, M.-C., Guillemin, J.-C., and Raulin, F.: 1995, Planet. Space Sci. 43, 25-31.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • de Vanssay E., Zubrzycki, S., Sternberg, R., Raulin, F., Sergent, M., and Phan Tan Luu, R.: 1994, J. Chromatogr. 688, 161-170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Vanssay, E., Capilla, P., Coscia, D., Do, L., Sternberg, R., and Raulin, F.: 1993, J. Chromatogr. 639, 255-259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Do, L. and Raulin, F.: 1992, J. Chromatogr. 591, 297-301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Do, L. and Raulin, F.: 1990, J. Chromatogr. 514, 65-69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Do, L. and Raulin, F.: 1989, J. Chromatogr. 401, 45-54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eberhardt, P., Reber, M., Krankowsky, D., Hodges, R. R.: 1995, Astron. Astrophys. 302, 301-316.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gautier D. and Owen, T.: 1988, in Origin and Evolution of Planetary and Satellite Atmospheres, University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 487-512.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbard, S. G., Macintosh, B. A., Max, C. E., de Pater, I., Roe, H. G., Marchis, F.: 2001, Paper presented at AAS meeting, December 2001.

  • Griffin, M. J. and 30 authors: 1996, Astron. Astrophys. 315, L389-L392.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Griffith, C. A. and Zahnle, K.: 1995, J. Geophys. Res. 100, 16 907-16 922.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Guiochon G. and Guillemin, C. L.: 1988, Quantitative Gas Chromatography, Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurwell, M. A. and Muhleman, D. O.: 1995, Icarus 117, 375-382.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hanel, R. A. and 15 co-authors: 1981, Science 212, 192-200.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hidayat, T. A., Marten, A., Bezard, B., Gautier, D., Owen, T., Matthews, H. E., and Paubert, G.: 1997, Icarus 126, 170-182.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hidayat, T. A., Marten, A., Bezard, B., Gautier, D., Owen, T., Matthews, H. E., and Paubert, G.: 1998, Icarus 133, 109-133.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hunten, D. M., Tomasko, M.G., Flasar, F. M., Samuelson, R. E., Strobel, D. F., and Stevenson, D. J.: 1984, in SATURN, Gehrels, T. and Matthews, M. (eds.), University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 671-759.

    Google Scholar 

  • Israel, G., Brun, J.-F., Cabane, M., Coscia, D., Niemann, H., Raulin, F., Riedler, W., and Way, S.: 2002 'Huygens Probe Aerosol Collector Pyrolyser Experiment', Space Sci. Rev., 104, 433-468. this issue

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kitson, F. G., Larsen, B. S., McEwen, C. N.: 1996, Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry: a practical guide, Academic Press, San Diego.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kunde, V. G., Aikin, A. C., Hanel, R. A., Jennings, D. E., Maguire, W. C., and Samuelson, R. E.: 1981, Nature 292, 686-688.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lara, L. M., Lellouch, E., Lopez-Moreno, J. J., and Rodrigo, R.: 1996, J. Geophys. Res. 101, 23261-23283.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lebreton, J.-P. and Matson, D. L.: 2002 'The Huygens Probe: Science Payload and Mission Overview', Space Science Reviews, 104, 59-99.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lellouch, E. and Hunten, D. M.: 1997, in Huygens, Science, Payload, Mission, SP-1177, A. Wilson (ed.), ESA Publications Division, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 237-242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, R. D.: 1993, ESA Journal 17, 275-292.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lunine, J.: 1993, Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 31, 133-149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lunine, J.: 1994, American Scientist 82, 134-143.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lunine, J., Atreya, S. K., Pollack, J. B.: 1989, in Origins and Evolution of Planetary Satellite Atmospheres, (Atreya, S. K., Pollack, J. B., Matthews, M. S., editors), University of Arizona Press, 605-665.

  • Lutz, B. L., de Bergh, C., and Owen, T.: 1983, Science 220, 1374-1375.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Mahaffy, P. R., Donahue, T. M., Atreya, S. K., Owen, T. C., and Niemann, H. B.: 1998, in Primordial Nuclei and Their Evolution (Prantzos, N., Tosi, M., von Steiger, R., editors), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, in press. Also, in a Special Issue of, Space Science Reviews, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marten, A., Gautier, D., Tanguy, L., Lecacheux, A., Rosolen, C., and Paubert, G.: 1988, Icarus 76, 558-562.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Marten, A., Hidayat, T. A., Moreno, R., Paubert, G., Bezard, B., Gautier, D., Matthews, H. E., and Owen, T.: 1997, IAU Circular No. 6702.

  • McFadden, W. H.: 1973, Techniques of Combined Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, J. Wiley & Sons, Inc.

  • McKay, C. P., Scattergood, T. W., Pollack, J. B., Borucki, W. J., and Van Ghyseghem, H. T: 1988, Nature 6164, 520-522.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Meier, R., Owen, T. C., Jewitt, D. C., Matthews, H. E., Matthew, S., Biver, N., Bockelee-Morvan, D., Croivisier, J., and Gautier, D.: 1998, Science 279, 842.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, D. M., Owen, T., and Soderblom, L. A.: 1986, in Satellites, Burns, J.A.and Matthews, M. S. (eds.) University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 764-801.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muhleman, D. O., Grossman, A. W., and Butler, B. J.: 1995, Ann. Rev. Earth and Planet. Sci. 23, 337-374.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Muhleman, D., Berge, G. L., and Clancey, R. T.: 1984, Science 223, 393.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Navale, V., Harpold, D., and Vertes, A.: 1998, Anal. Chem. 70-4, 689-697.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niemann, H. B., Booth, J. R., Cooley, J. E., Hartle, R. E., Kasprzak, W. T., Spencer, N. W., Way, S. H., Hunten, D. M., and Carignan, G. R.: 1980, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, GE-18-1, 60-65.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Niemann, H. B., Harpold, D. N., Atreya, S. K., Carignan, G. R., Hunten, D. M., and Owen, T. C.: 1992, Space Science Reviews 60, 111-142.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Niemann, H. B., Atreya, S. K., Carignan, G. R., Donahue, T. M., Haberman, J. A., Harpold, D. N., Hartle, R.E., Hunten, D.M., Kasprzak, W.T., Mahaffy, P.R., Owen, T.C., Spencer, N.W., and Way, S. H.: 1996, Science 272, 846-849.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Noll, K. S., Geballe, T. R., Knacke, R. F., and Pendleton, Y. J.: 1996, Icarus 124, 625-631.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Orton, G. S.: 1982, in Proceedings of a Symposium on Titan, ESA SP-338, 81-88.

  • Owen, T.: 1982, Planet Space Sci. 30, 833-838.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Owen, T. and Bar-Nun, A.: 1995, Icarus 116, 215-226.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Owen, T. and Gautier, D.: 1989, Adv. Space. Res. 9, 73-78.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Owen, T., Raulin, F., McKay, C., Lunine, J. I., Lebreton, J.-P., and Matson, D. L.: 1997, in Huygens, Science, Payload, Mission, ESA SP1177, Wilson, A. (ed.), ESA Publications Division, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 231-233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owen, T., Meier, R., Matthews, H. E., and Marten, A.: 1998, Paper presented at Symposium in Nantes, France, May 1998: Galileo at Jupiter and Cassini-Huygens at Saturn.

  • Raulin F., Frere, C., Paillous, P., de Vanssay, E. Do, L., and Khlifi, M.: 1992a J. British Interplan. Soc. 45, 257-271.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Raulin F., de Vanssay, E., Do, L., and Paillous, P.: 1992b, LC-GC 5, 22-31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raulin, F., Bruston, P., Paillous, P., and Sternberg, R.: 1995, Adv. Space Res. 15, 321-333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Samuelson, R. E., Hanel, R. A., Kunde, V. G., and MaGuire, W. C.: 1981, Nature 292, 688-693.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Samuelson, R. E. and Maguire, W. C., Hanel, R. A., Kunde, V. G., Jennings, D. E., Yung, Y. L., and Aikin, A..: 1983, J. Geophys. Res. 88, 8709-8715.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Samuelson, R., Nath, R. A., and Borysow, A.: 1997, Planetary and Space Science 45, 959-980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, P. H., Lemmon, M. T., Lorenz, R. D., Sromorsky, J. J., Caldwell, J. J., and Allison, M. D.: 1996, Icarus 119, 336-349.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Strobel, D. F.: 1982, Planet. Space Sci. 30, 839-848.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Strobel, D. F., Hall, D. T., Zhu, X., and Summers, M. E.: 1993, Icarus 103, 333-336.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Toublanc, D., Parisot, J. P., Brillet, J., Gautier, Raulin, F., and McKay, C. P.: 1995, Icarus 113, 2.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, J. T.: 1997, Introduction to Mass Spectrometry, Lippincott-Raven Publishers, 375-398.

  • Yung, Y. L., Allen, M., and Pinto, J. P.: 1984, Astrophys. J. Suppl. 55, 465.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Meteorology and Geophysics, University of Graz, A-8010 Graz, Austria

    H.B. Niemann & S.J. Bauer

  2. Member Investigation Team, USA

    H.B. Niemann

  3. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    S.K. Atreya

  4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 01239, USA

    K. Biemann

  5. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    B. Block, G.R. Carignan & T.M. Donahue

  6. University of Alabama, CMC, 817 22nd Street, South Birmingham, AL, 35205, USA

    R.L. Frost

  7. Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, F-92195, Meudon Cedex, France

    D. Gautier

  8. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA

    J.A. Haberman, D. Harpold, J.E. Richards & S.H. Way

  9. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85716, USA

    D.M. Hunten & J.I. Lunine

  10. Service d'Aéronomie du CNRS, F-91371, Verrières le Buisson Cedex, France

    G. Israel & K. Mauersberger

  11. University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    T.C. Owen

  12. Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques, Université Paris 12 et Paris 7, Avenue du général de Gaulle, F-94010, Creteil Cedex, France

    F. Raulin

Authors
  1. H.B. Niemann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S.K. Atreya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S.J. Bauer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. Biemann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. B. Block
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. G.R. Carignan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. T.M. Donahue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. R.L. Frost
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. D. Gautier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. J.A. Haberman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. D. Harpold
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. D.M. Hunten
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. G. Israel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. J.I. Lunine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. K. Mauersberger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. T.C. Owen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. F. Raulin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  18. J.E. Richards
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  19. S.H. Way
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Niemann, H., Atreya, S., Bauer, S. et al. The Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer for the Huygens Probe. Space Science Reviews 104, 553–591 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023680305259

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023680305259

Keywords

Search

Navigation