NASA Team Explores Using LISA Pathfinder as 'Comet Crumb' Detector (VIDEO)

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Caption

In a proof-of-concept study, NASA scientists are exploring using ESA's (the European Space Agency) LISA Pathfinder spacecraft as a micrometeoroid detector. When tiny particles shed by asteroids and comets impact LISA Pathfinder, its thrusters work to quickly counteract any change in the spacecraft's motion. Researchers are monitoring these signals to learn more about the impacting particles.

Credit

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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