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Interpretation of the measurements of secondary electron currents induced by impacts during the flyby of comet Halley

Grün, E.; Grard, R.; Apáthy, I. +3 more

The Giotto, Vega-1 and Vega-2 spacecraft flew through the environment of comet Halley at a relatively close range with velocities of the order of 70-80 km/s. The fore sections of their surface were bombarded by neutral molecules and dust grains which caused the emission of secondary electrons and sputtered ions. This paper makes use of the seconda…