Ready to probe mars
May 1st 2004

The Decagon Devices KD2 thermal analyser, available in the UK through Labcell, is a handheld instrument for measuring thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, thermal resistivity and temperature.

With a simple probe that is inserted into the sample, the KD2 is normally used for soils, powders, gels and, occasionally, liquids found in the food, pharmaceutical, agricultural and horticultural sectors.

In 2007, however, a modified version will head for Mars. When NASAs Phoenix Scout Mars Lander lands on the planets northern hemisphere, it will use a robotic arm to push the Decagon probe into the planets surface to measure the thermal conductivity of the regolith, the Martian soil material. This will give scientists information about how much the normally cold regolith warms up when exposed to direct sunlight.

The instrument for the Mars mission is essentially the same as the KD2 production unit, but re-specified and repackaged. It also has to withstand being cleaned in a bath of high temperature hydrogen peroxide.