Micro-Imaging Dust Analysis System

MIDAS
OperatorESA
ManufacturerAustria, the Netherlands and Germany
Instrument typeAtomic force microscope
FunctionElemental analiser
Mission duration12 years, 6 months, 28 days
Began operations6 August 2014[1]
Ceased operations30 September 2016
Properties
Mass8.0 kg
Power consumption7.4 W
Host spacecraft
SpacecraftRosetta spacecraft
OperatorEuropean Space Agency
Launch date2 March 2004 (2004-03-02)
RocketAriane 5G+ V-158
Launch siteKourou ELA-3
COSPAR ID2004-006A
OrbitComet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko

The Micro-Imaging Dust Analysis System (MIDAS) is one of several instruments on the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission which studied in-situ the environment around the active comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko as it flew into the inner Solar System.[2][3] MIDAS is an atomic force microscope (AFM) designed to collect dust particles emitted from the comet,[4][5] and then scan them with a very sharp needle-like tip to determine their 3D structure, size and texture with very high resolution (4 nanometers).[3]

  1. ^ "Rosetta timeline: countdown to comet arrival". European Space Agency. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  2. ^ Riedler, W.; Torkar, K.; Jeszenszky, H.; Romstedt, J.; et al. (2007). "MIDAS The Micro-Imaging Dust Analysis System for the Rosetta Mission". Space Science Reviews. 128 (1–4): 869–904. Bibcode:2007SSRv..128..869R. doi:10.1007/s11214-006-9040-y. S2CID 44189154.
  3. ^ a b "Rosseta — Orbiter Instruments". European Space Agency. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  4. ^ Stanglin, Doug (January 20, 2014). "Comet-bound probe Rosetta wakes up: 'Hello, world!". USA Today. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  5. ^ "Rosetta EQM Engineering Model Comes Together". Space Daily. August 17, 2000. Retrieved 2014-04-22.