MANiaC
The MANiaC instrument contains a time-of-flight mass spectrometer and a neutral density gauge, both attached to an electronics unit. Combining the measurements of the two sensors results in the absolute neutral gas densities of different volatile species along the flyby trajectory of the Comet Interceptor spacecraft.
MANiaC is set to measure the abundances of the major volatile species in the cometary coma. These include H2O, CO2, CO, and possibly O2. Depending on the outgassing activity of the target comet, also minor species, such as organic molecules and heavy isotopologues of water, can be measured. Furthermore, information on the composition of dust grains may be obtained in case such a particle by chance enters the instrument.
