Dust Flux Monitor Instrument

device

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 20, 2026

Quick Summary

The Dust Flux Monitor Instrument is a sophisticated device designed to measure the rates and mass distribution of dust particle impacts. Essentially functioning as a large-area microphone, it was a crucial component of the Stardust spacecraft, serving as a shield against fast-moving dust. This instrument helped scientists understand the composition and behavior of dust in space, contributing to the mission's broader goals of collecting and analyzing dust grains from interplanetary space and comets. A dust counter, a related device, is an instrument used to determine the number of dust particles or condensation nuclei per unit volume of air.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Stardust/NExT
The Dust Flux Monitor Instrument was basically a sophisticated large-area microphone that measured particle impact rates and mass distribution. It was built as a shield to protect the spacecraft from fast-moving dust.
Read More
The Dust Flux Monitor Instrument was basically a sophisticated large-area microphone that measured particle impact rates and mass distribution. It was built as a shield to protect the spacecraft from fast-moving dust.
Read More