国内英语资讯:China invites world scientists to explore asteroid, comet together_时事

国内英语资讯:China invites world scientists to explore asteroid, comet together

They will compare the samples with meteorites, as well as ground-based observation, remote-sensing and in-situ analysis.

Scientists are also interested in the environment of the comet 133P and the potential water and organic materials on it.

Liu said China began to solicit proposals on eight types of scientific instruments to be used in the mission among universities, research organizations and private enterprises both at home and abroad.

Chinese and foreign institutions and scientists are encouraged to jointly propose the schemes and develop the detectors, Liu said.

The instruments include a color camera with an intermediate field of view, thermal emission spectrometer, visible and infrared imaging spectrometer, multispectral camera, detection radar, magnetometer, charged and neutral particle analyzer and dust analyzer, according to Liu.

He said there might be two forms of onboard schemes. One possible scheme is to carry an independent detector on the rocket. After China's main probe enters the orbit, the onboard detector will separate from the rocket and then perform independent tasks. Its mass should not exceed 200 kg.

The other possible option is to let China's main probe carry the onboard detector to the near-Earth asteroid or the main-belt comet and then release it. The detector could either perform independent scientific exploration or coordinate with the main probe.

If the onboard detector does not separate with the main probe, its mass should not exceed 20 kg. If the detector separates from the main probe near the asteroid, its mass should be no more than 80 kg. If it separates from the main probe near the comet, its mass should not exceed 20 kg.