The Open University

The OU’s involvement in the Rosetta mission is through its Department of Physical Sciences. The most visible contribution of the Open University is through the Ptolemy evolved gas analyser on the Philae lander, co-developed with RAL Space, that will analyse the surface of comet 67P for light elements such as carbon, nitrogen and oxygen.

Ian Wright

Principle investigator of the Ptolemy instrument.

Colin Pillinger

Original principle investigator of the Ptolemy instrument

Andrew Morse

Co-investigator on the Ptolemy instrument

Simon Sheridan

Co-investigator on the Ptolemy instrument

Geraint Morgan

Co-investigator on the Ptolemy instrument

Dan Andrews

Co-investgator on the Ptolemy instrument

Simeon Barber

Project manager of the Ptolemy instrument

The OU is also providing significant scientific contributions in other scientific instrumentation including the MUPUS instrument and the GIADA dust analysis instrument as well as leading the team of astronomers observing the comet from the ground.

Tony McDonnell

Co-Investigator on the GIADA instrument (and Principal Investigator on the original proposal)

Simon Green

Co-investigator on the GIADA instrument

Mark Leese

Co-Investigator on the GIADA instrument; Project Manager for Ptolemy construction phase; Member of MUPUS instrument proposal team

John Zarnecki

Co-Investigator on the MUPUS instrument (and Co-Principal Investigator on the original proposal); Co-Investigator on GIADA

Axel Hagermann

Co-investigator on the MUPUS instrument

Erika Kaufmann

Co-investigator on the MUPUS instrument

Colin Snodgrass

Coordinates the international ground-based observing campaign

Away from the direct research involvement in the mission, the OU is also been heavily involved in outreach relating to the mission.

Ross Burgon

Outreach co-ordinator

Monica Grady

Professor in Planetary Sciences

Natalie Starkey

Researcher in Planetary Sciences