Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed an instrument to measure the density of the dust that kicks up when spacecraft thrusters interact with planetary surfaces as it lands. Because cameras and other optical equipment are blinded by dense dust clouds, the instrument uses millimeter-wave radar in a new way to accurately measure the dust and debris. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed an instrument to measure the density of the dust that kicks up when spacecraft thrusters interact with planetary surfaces as it lands. Because cameras and other optical equipment are blinded by dense dust clouds, the instrument uses millimeter-wave radar in a new way to accurately measure the dust and debris. Space Exploration Phys.org – latest science and technology news stories
Instrument uses millimeter-wave radar to measure density of dust that kicks up from spacecraft thrusters
