1. Ion neutral mass spectrometer results from the first flyby of Titan
- Author
-
Ralph L. McNutt, Wing-Huen Ip, Hasso B. Niemann, Brian Magee, Ken Arnett, Erin Walter, N. Borggren, Janet G. Luhmann, Virginie De La Haye, Ingo Müller-Wordag, Roger V. Yelle, S. Ledvina, Wayne Kasprzak, Thomas E. Cravens, David A. Gell, Ryan M. Miller, J. Hunter Waite, Jing Xu, Stefan Scherer, Greg Fletcher, Rob Thorpe, and Bruce P. Block
- Subjects
Extraterrestrial Environment ,Nitrogen ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Mass spectrometry ,Methane ,Mass Spectrometry ,Astrobiology ,symbols.namesake ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Isotopes ,Nitriles ,Atmosphere of Titan ,Argon ,Spacecraft ,Physics::Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics ,Carbon Isotopes ,Multidisciplinary ,Life on Titan ,Nitrogen Isotopes ,Chemistry ,Atmosphere ,Temperature ,Isotopes of argon ,Elements ,Isotopes of nitrogen ,Hydrocarbons ,Saturn ,Physics::Space Physics ,symbols ,Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics ,Titan (rocket family) ,Evolution, Planetary ,Hydrogen - Abstract
The Cassini Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) has obtained the first in situ composition measurements of the neutral densities of molecular nitrogen, methane, molecular hydrogen, argon, and a host of stable carbon-nitrile compounds in Titan's upper atmosphere. INMS in situ mass spectrometry has also provided evidence for atmospheric waves in the upper atmosphere and the first direct measurements of isotopes of nitrogen, carbon, and argon, which reveal interesting clues about the evolution of the atmosphere. The bulk composition and thermal structure of the moon's upper atmosphere do not appear to have changed considerably since the Voyager 1 flyby.
- Published
- 2005