 DAN instrument on the Curiosity rover | |
| Operator | NASA |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Russian Space Research Institute (IKI) |
| Instrument type | neutron spectrometer |
| Function | hydrogen and H2O detector |
| Mission duration | Primary: 668 sols (687 days) Current: 4200 sols (4315 days) since landing |
| Began operations | August 6, 2012 |
| Website | msl-scicorner |
| Host spacecraft | |
| Spacecraft | Curiosity rover |
| Operator | NASA |
| Launch date | November 26, 2011, 15:02:00 UTC |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-41 |
| COSPAR ID | 2011-070A |
The Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) instrument is an experiment mounted on the Mars Science Laboratory's Curiosity rover. It is a pulsed sealed-tube neutron source and detector used to measure hydrogen or ice and water at or near the Martian surface.[1][2] The instrument consists of the detector element (DE) and a 14.1 MeV pulsing neutron generator (PNG). The die-away time of neutrons is measured by the DE after each neutron pulse from the PNG. DAN was provided by the Russian Federal Space Agency,[1][2] funded by Russia[3] and is under the leadership of Principal Investigator Igor Mitrofanov.[4]
- ^ a b Litvak, M. L.; Mitrofanov, I. G.; Barmakov, Yu. N.; Behar, A.; Bitulev, A.; et al. (2008). "The Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) Experiment for NASA's 2009 Mars Science Laboratory". Astrobiology. 8 (3): 605–12. Bibcode:2008AsBio...8..605L. doi:10.1089/ast.2007.0157. PMID 18598140.
- ^ a b "MSL Science Corner: Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN)". NASA/JPL. Archived from the original on March 20, 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
- ^ "Mars Science Laboratory: Mission". NASA/JPL. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
- ^ Webster, Guy (April 8, 2013). "Remaining Martian Atmosphere Still Dynamic". NASA. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
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