Abstract

Spaceflight instruments that measure the energy and intensity of gamma rays and neutrons emitted by the surfaces of planetary bodies have been included in planetary science missions since 1966. These instruments use nuclear techniques to determine the elemental composition and related information about planetary surface and near-surface materials from the analysis of these gamma ray and neutron data. This paper provides a short review of these nuclear techniques as they have been used in current and past orbital and landed missions. A description of the nuclear instrumentation on many such missions is provided. Finally, descriptions of future missions that will employ gamma ray and neutron instruments will be presented.

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