A European probe to comet Halley

A European probe to comet Halley is proposed. The probe's model payload consists of 8 scientific instruments, viz. neutral, ion and dust impact mass spectrometers, magnetometer, medium energy ion and electron analyzer, camera, dust impact detectors and plasma wave experiment. Fly-by of the comet Halley nucleus will take place on November 28th, 1985, at about 500 km miss distance. The main spacecraft serves as relay link to transmit the observed data to Earth. As probe, a modified ISEE 2 design is proposed. Because of the cometary dust hazard expected in the coma a heavy dust shield (27 kg) is required, consisting of a thin front sheet and a 3 layer rear sheet. The probe is spin-stabilized (12 rpm), has no active attitude and orbit control capability and uses battery power only to provide about 1000 Wh for a measuring phase. A despun antenna transmits up to 20 kbit/s, in X-band. The total probe mass is estimated at 250 kg. The 3 model development programme should start in mid 1981 with Phase B.