| Facts on the PFS Instrument |
| Instrument Name: |
Planetary Fourier Spectrometer |
| Principal Investigator: |
Vittorio Formisano, Istituto Fisica Spazio Interplanetario, Rome, Italy |
| Mission: |
European Space Agency’s Mars Express spacecraft, launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan by Soyuz/Fregat rocket on 2 June 2003; arrived at Mars on 25 December 2003 |
| Function: |
Uses short- and long wavelength infrared light to study the Martian atmosphere and the mineralological composition of the surface |
| Design: |
Consists of four units; a double pendulum interferometer with electronics, a control unit, a power supply and a pointing device. Light entering the interferometer is split according to wavelength to be sent to one of two detectors |
| Dimensions: |
35 x 25 x 40 cm Module O ( interferometer)
20 x 20 x20 cm Module S ( the pointing mirror)
5 x 24 x 20 cm Module P ( Power supply)
20 x20 x10 cm Module E ( Digital electronics) |
| Launch mass: |
31.2 kg |
| Power requirements: |
5 W thermal control; 10 W in sleep mode; 35 W full operational mode; 44 W peak |
| Infrared Detectors: |
Short wavelength Lead Selenide (PbSe) detector kept cooled to 200-220 K; long wavelength Lithium Tantalate pyroelectric detector working at room temperature |
| Wavelength range: |
1.2 – 5 ?m (short wavelength detector) and 5 – 45 ?m (long wavelength detector) |
| Field of view: |
1.4 degrees (short wavelength detector); 2.6 degrees (long wavelength detector) |
| Spectral points distinguished: |
8000 (short wavelength detector)
2000 (long wavelength detector) |
| Frequency of measurements: |
8 seconds |
| Measurements per orbit: |
approximately 300 (current) |
| Facts on the participating parties |
| Countries involved in PFS science: |
Italy, Poland, Germany, Russia, France, Spain, USA |
| Countries involved in PFS hardware production: |
Italy, Poland and (minor), Germany and Russia |
| Main Institutions in Italy: |
IFSI-CNR Istituto Fisica Spazio Interplanetario Del Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche |
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Università Di Padova (CISAS ) |
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Università Di Lecce |
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IAS-CNR: Istituto Astrofisica Spaziale Del Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche |
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Osservatorio Astronomico Di Napoli |