Oxford sensor on board space station

Oxford Instruments has announced one of its sensors is being used aboard the International Space Station.

The Debris In-orbit Evaluator (DEBIE) sensor has been installed in the European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF) to monitor sub-millimetre size particle distribution.

EuTEF has been mounted on the outside of the Columbus module of the International Space Station to carry experiments that require exposure to the extreme space environment.

A company statement said: "DEBIE sensor units are designed to measure the mass and impact speed of high velocity sub-millimetre particles.

"These particles may be of natural origin, such as remnants of comets, asteroids and meteoroids, or they can be man-made debris from spacecrafts."

Oxford’s first DEBIE instrument was launched in October 2001 aboard the PROBA-1 satellite.

The firm aims to be the leading provider of tools and systems for the emerging nanotechnology and bioscience markets.

It specialises in the design, manufacture and support of high-technology tools and systems for industry, research, education, space, energy, defence and healthcare.