Goodfellow helps unearth the secrets of Saturn

Citation

(2005), "Goodfellow helps unearth the secrets of Saturn", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 77 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2005.12777dad.003

Goodfellow helps unearth the secrets of Saturn

Goodfellow helps unearth the secrets of Saturn

Keywords: Metals, Space technology

High-purity metals supplied by Cambridgeshire-based Goodfellow Cambridge Ltd have helped to unlock some of the secrets of Saturn and Titan, the planet’s largest moon, during the joint NASA/ESA (European Space Agency) historic seven-year spacecraft mission to the outer solar system.

Goodfellow, which specialises in supplying high-purity metals and materials to research establishments and industry, provided platinum wire, gold and other high-purity metals. They were used in scientific instruments and sensors that provide data to help scientists characterise the atmosphere and environment encountered around Saturn and on Titan.

The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft is made up of the Cassini orbiter, which was developed by NASA, and the Huygens probe developed by the ESA. The spacecraft has been in orbit around Saturn since July 2004 and has transmitted back to Earth extensive data about the planet, its moons, rings and magnetic environment.

In December 2004 the Huygens probe was despatched from the spacecraft and landed on Titan on 18 January 2005. Sensors and instruments on-board the nine foot diameter probe transmitted information back to earth about the surface composition of the moon and the atmosphere encountered during the probe’s descent.

One of the scientific components used within the SSP (Surface Science Pack), which collects data from the surface of the moon, is a thermal properties sensor (THP sensor). This measures thermal conductivity and thermal diffusion and contains two pairs of high purity platinum wires which were supplied by Goodfellow.

The two pairs of wires, one of 10 μm diameter and the other of 25 μm diameter, are housed in cylindrical cells. One pair is used for atmospheric measurement and the other for liquid measurement.

The SSP has transmitted exciting data back to the ESA. The surface temperature of the moon is sub-170ºC and evidence has been found of liquid flow, which appears to be as a result of methane rainfall.

“We are very proud to have been part of such an historic and valuable scientific research project”. said Stephen Aldersley, Director at Goodfellow Cambridge Ltd.