14
DETECTION OF EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE
would provide chemical information concerning the object or materials in the field of view.
The simplest model of a microscope for space use is called the “abbreviated microscope.” This is a fixed-focus, impaction, phase-contrast instrument
Figure 4.—The abbreviated microscope. An aerosol for carrying particles is injected into the instrument and is impacted onto the impaction plate through a nozzle implanted in the condenser lens. The objective lens and the lamp are fixed in relation to the plane of focus. The sample is collected through a gas-operated aerosol aspirator. The instrument has no mechanical moving parts.
