This web page's content and links are no longer actively maintained. It is available for reference purposes only. NASA Official: Dr. Paul Mahaffy
 

Instrument Housing

Quick Facts

• Purpose: to protect the GCMS, keep its components clean, and ensure that the instrument will work under a variety of conditions; also makes handling the instrument easier



• Size, Location, Materials Used, & Pictures:

The housing is divided into three parts, each containing different parts of the instrument:

1. Analyzer Housing:
• 



• Size:

  Diameter = 2.7 inches (6.858 cm) for the tube; 4.1 inches (10.414 cm) on the end

  Height = about 8 inches (20.32 cm)

  Object of comparable size: The analyzer housing is approximately the height and diameter of a 20 oz bottle of soda pop.

• Houses: Quadrupole rods, lenses, and electron multiplier
• Materials Used: High-strength titanium alloy
• Special Features: The analyzer housing is a vacuum chamber.



2. Center Section Housing:
• 



• Size:

  Diameter = 7 inches (17.78 cm) for the tube; 8.5 inches (21.59 cm) in the middle

  Height = about 10 inches (25.4 cm)

• Houses: Gas handling system (such as GC columns), pumps, and valves
• Materials Used: High-strength alumnium
• Special Features: The center section housing contains a pure nitrogen atmosphere pressurized to 1 atmosphere (same as the pressure here on earth).



3. Lower Housing:
• 



• Size:

  Diameter = 8.75 inches (22.225 cm)

  Height = 4.75 inches (12.065 cm)

  Object of comparable size: The lower housing is approximately the diameter of a gallon of milk and about half its height.

• Houses: Hydrogen gas storage, valves, and pumps
• Materials Used: High-strength alumnium
• Special Features: The center section housing contains a pure nitrogen atmosphere pressurized to 1 atmosphere (same as the pressure here on earth).



• Manufacturer: Various companies were invovled in supplying parts for the housing.

For a list of companies that supplied major parts or important services for Huygens' GCMS, click here.

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