A cryo-cooled mass spectrometer ion source for atmospheric composition measurements at supersonic rocket velocities

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Abstract
The helium cooled mass spectrometer ion source was modified to avoid the formation of a shock in front of it during a supersonic rocket flight. Thus the undisturbed measurement of major and minor atmospheric constituents including reactive species becomes possible in the denser parts of the atmosphere. Two instruments of this kind were extensively tested and calibrated in the laboratory. Mass spectra were obtained from them during two successful rocket flights at altitudes above 83 km.