Possible Detection of Water in the Exosphere of (21) Lutetia

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[0343] Atmospheric Composition And Structure / Planetary Atmospheres, [6005] Planetary Sciences: Comets And Small Bodies / Atmospheres, [6020] Planetary Sciences: Comets And Small Bodies / Ices, [6205] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Asteroids

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Abstract

The Rosetta spacecraft performed a flyby at (21) Lutetia on 10 July 2010 with a closest approach of 3160 km. Among the scientific instruments on Rosetta is the ROSINA experiment, a suite of two mass spectrometers (DFMS and RTOF) and the pressure gauge, COPS. ROSINA successfully recorded data during the flyby. Most of the recorded signals were the result of spacecraft outgasing, arising from areas that were in shadow during the time proceeding the flyby and became illuminated (and therefore heated) when the spacecraft’s attitude was changed for the asteroid observations. These outgasing signals are well understood and are almost identical to the signals observed during the rehearsal manoeuvre in deep space performed in preparation for this flyby. In addition to these outgasing signals we identified a small water signal that has its likely origin in the asteroid. Preliminary analysis shows that Lutetia is losing water at the rate of Q = 1.4x10^26 H2O/s, within a factor 2. Finding water released from this asteroid makes it likely that Lutetia is a C-type asteroid, similar to the carbonaceous chondrites, which are know to contain water up to the percent level.

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