CODEX Instrument Pic (IMAGE) Southwest Research Institute Caption SwRI is designing the CODEX instrument to use radioisotope dating techniques in situ to determine the age of rocks on other planets or moons. With fiver lasers and a mass spectrometer, the 20-inch-cube instrument is designed to vaporize tiny bits of rock and measure the elements present to pin down the rock's age with previously unmet precision. Credit Tom Whitaker, SwRI Usage Restrictions Images/videos may be used by the media and the public for educational and informational purposes only License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.